A CUCKOO IN SEARCH OF A NEST.
[To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sta,—Knowing your interest in bird life I write you of the curious experience I have had with a cuckoo. On May 28th, on approaching my house, I saw a cuckoo hanging on to the ivy on the wall, apparently trying to force its head into a nest, but being vigorously assailed by the parent birds, who drove it away and pursued it. I procured a ladder and found four eggs in the nest. The cuckoo returned to the assault late the same evening. On the Monday, two days later, I again examined the nest and found three young birds and one egg. To-day I find the four young ones dead at the foot of the wall —evidently thrown out this morning. The cuckoo never succeeded in planting its egg in the nest, and I can only think it waited for an opportunity, while the parents were foraging for food, to revenge itself by destroying the young. I have never come across or read of such a case, and have always thought the original nestlings were shovelled out by the young
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