286 NATURAL HISTORY IN ANECDOTE.

them must inevitably perish. Two cuckoos and one hedge-
sparrow were hatched in the same nest, and one hedge-
sparrow’s egg remained unhatched. In a few hours afterwards
a contest began between the cuckoos for the possession of the
nest, which continued undetermined till the next afternoon,
when one of them, which was somewhat superior in size,
turned out the other, together with the young hedge-sparrow
and the unhatched egg. The combatants alternately appeared
to have the advantage, as each carried the other several times
to the top of the nest, and then sunk down again, oppressed
by the weight of the burthen; till at length, after various
efforts, the strongest prevailed, and was afterwards brotight
up by the hedge-sparrow.” Jenner’s experiences have been
corroborated by repeated experiments since. Colonel Montague
carried a hedge-sparrow’s nest, so inhabited, into his house
where he could watch it at leisure and where he saw the
young cuckoo frequently oust the baby hedge-sparrow in
the manner described. The cuckoo feeds on caterpillars, and
insects, It may be tamed, but as a rule does not live long
in confinement. Its note is heard from April to June.
ee That the cuckoo is scarcely an amiable bird
Guckeo would appear from the following incident recorded
and the by Dr. Stanley: “A young thrush, just able to
mhrush. feed itself, was placed in a cage. A short time
after, a young cuckoo, which could not feed itself, was placed
in the same cage,'and fed by the owner. At length it was
observed that the thrush fed it; the cuckoo opening its
mouth, and sitting on the upper perch, and making the thrush
hop down to fetch its food. One day, while thus expecting
its supply, a worm was put into the cage, and the thrush
could not resist the temptation of eating it, upon which the
cuckoo descended, attacked the thrush with fury, and literally
tore out one of its eyes, and then hopped back. Although
so lacerated, the poor thrush meekly took up some food, and
continued to do so till the cuckoo was full grown.”