Lab
Library
Journal
Shop
Sign in
to keep
1
136
My Studio Neighbors
·
W. Hamilton Gibson
25
Indeed,
the
similarities
and
contrasts
afforded
by
a
comparison
of
the
habits
of
all
these
birds--European
cuckoo,
American
cuckoo,
and
cow-bird--afford
an
interesting
theme
for
the
student
of
evolution.
What
is
to
be
the
ultimate
outcome
of
it
all?
for
the
murderous
cuckoo
must
be
considered
merely
as
an
innocent
factor
in
the
great
scheme
of
Nature's
equilibrium,
in
which
the
devourer
and
the
parasite
would
seem
to
play
the
all-important
parts,
the
present
example
being
especially
emphasized
because
of
its
conspicuousness
and
its
violence
to
purely
human
sentiment.
The
parasite
would
often
seem
to
hold
the
balance
of
power.
Jonathan
Swift's
epitome
of
the
subject,
if
not
specifically
true,
is
at
least
correct
in
its
general
application:
"A
flea
Has
smaller
fleas
that
on
him
prey;
And
these
have
smaller
still
to
bite
'em;
And
so
proceed
ad
infinitum."
Even
the
tiny
egg
of
a
butterfly
has
its
ichneumon
parasite,
a
microscopic
wasp,
which
lays
its
own
egg
within
the
larger
one,
which
ultimately
hatches
a
wasp
instead
of
the
baby
caterpillar.
But
who
ever
heard
of
anything
but
good
luck
falling
to
the
lot
of
cow-bird
or
cuckoo,
except
as
its
blighting
course
is
occasionally
arrested
by
the
outraged
human?
They
always
find
a
feathered
nest.
In
this
connection
it
is
interesting
to
note
certain
developments
in
bird
life
upon
the
lines
of
which
evolution
might
work
with
revolutionary
effect.
Most
of
our
birds
are
helpless
and
generally
resigned
victims
to
the
cow-bird,
but
there
are
indications
of
occasional
effective
protest
among
them.
Thus
the
little
Maryland
yellow-throat,
according
to
various
authorities,
often
ousts
the
intruded
egg,
and
its
broken
remains
are
also
occasionally
seen
on
the
ground
beneath
the
nests
of
the
cat-bird
and
the
oriole.
The
red-eyed
vireo,
on
the
other
hand,
though
having
apparently
an
easier
task
than
the
latter,
in
the
lesser
depth
of
her
pensile
nest,
commonly
abandons
it
altogether
to
the
unwelcome
speckled
ovum--always,
I
believe,
if
the
cow-bird
has
anticipated
her
own
first
egg.
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
White-out
Fine white-out
Circle
Paint
Unmarker
Hand
Scalpel
Dice
Sieve
Purify
Undo
Redo
Start over
