But yet,
should it farther appear that this simple bird, when divested of the
natural storge(in Greek) that seems to raise the kind in general
above themselves, and inspire them with extraordinary degrees of
cunning and address, may be still endued with a more enlarged
faculty of discerning what species are suitable and congenerous
nursing-mothers for its disregarded eggs and young, and may
deposit them only under their care, this would be adding wonder to
wonder, and instancing in a fresh manner that the methods of
Providence are not subjected to any mode or rule, but astonish us
in new lights, and in various and changeable appearances.
What was said by a very ancient and sublime writer concerning the
defect of natural affection in the ostrich, may be well applied to the
bird we are talking of:
'She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not
hers:
Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he
imparted to her understanding.' *
(* Job xxxix. 16, 17.)
Query.--Does each female cuckoo lay but one egg in a season, or
does she drop several in different nests according as opportunity
offers?
I am, etc.
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