New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-13

tolerant thrush with whom n fair exchange had
been made sat on. all unconcerned. and Matched
the young blackbird with her own younR-only.
alas 10 fall victims to a maraudng cat. Again.
cuckoo's egg was one morning found in the
finished nest of a Hnnet which had been under
observation while building The suspicious lin
net thereupOn suspended operations for several
days. and was thought TO have forsaken her
nest. Accordingly. the egg was collected. Next
day the Iinnet returned. lined her nest. and IN
due course laid her clutch of eggs.
Instinct at times Is very literally blind. even
the maternal instinct that fondly hopes viii
do all that is best for the child A few summers
ago a mudwasp built the cradle for her first
born my window ledge flying 70 and fro
with successive burdens Of mud until the cell
nearly completed She then. with praise
worthy diligence and forethOught. collected q
score or more Of nice. juicy. green caterpillars
from the rose trees. and packed them. paralyzed
but living, into the larder-cradle. All being now
duly provided for the welfare Of her offspring,
she laid single egg in the midst Of plenty-ths
very lap Of luxury from a maggOt'S point Of
view-and sealed the open end Knowing that
she would begin a second cell touching the first,
/ at once broke open the door Of the completed
house and placed all the Caterpillars and tbs
solitary egg the window ledge. The wrath
and CONSERVATION Of the returning mother vera
a sight 10 behold. but. not 70 be beaten, shs
seized the caterpfars one by one and stuffed
them back again. pushing them in with her fat
head swinging like animated battering ram
On her six tiny feet then she repaired the dam
age. but her precious egg she left outside in tns
cold. She knew IL not and how should shet
She had never beheld it. Her maternal instincta
were satisfied. and blind TO their best nterestsl
but her intelligence such that knowing sh9
had put egg in the cell she did not lay
other-the harder was not stocked for two. 10 -
likely enough that. in the same way, the love %
birds for their eggs Is often blind.
r-FNw . q
Of June, and then is enacted the final scene ot
horror. The hdeOus young cuckoo Just emerged
from the shell. with eyes as yet unopened. seta
himself in most deliberate and unCanny FASH
ION 70 Gust the rightful occupants Of the nest
The history Of all parasites forms a perplexines
chapter in the economy Of the universe. but this
surpasses all in its base ingratitude and heart-s
less cruelty Provided with a special depressiorr
In the back by that careful and mercilesz
nature. this callOv bird works with head and
wings 10 get his comrades into the saddle thus
prepared the legs. stalwart out Of all prOpOr-
ton in young animal. are stTaddled out
the claws grip with firm determination the soft
lining OF the sides OF the nest the beak il thruse
against the floor. the wings wide outstretched
lest the victim roll sideways back into the nest
Tense in every MUSCLE the little alien heaves
with all its puny might. and one by one the
helpless dedglings or the Unmatched eggs are
hOiSted the edge, to perish OF cold and
starvation. To the OnlOOker the whole Per
Torrance IS positively repulsive, 50 deliberately
does the blind little creature set about its cruel
task, so admirably adapted is it for the per
Torrance OF its fell purpose. To me, at any
rate Il is no small satisfaction that now and
again two cuckOOs are Matched in the same nest.
and in the tug-Of-war that then ensues Ons
Greek at least meets his superior"