IT-t FACTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE COMMOX CUCKOO. 



It has also been positively stated that it is "rare for the Cuckoo to Iny 

 its eggs in the nest of the Hedge Sparrow, and that a recent Hedge Sparrow's 

 nest is not met with in July." Now, on the 7th. of August, 1850, I took 

 a nest of this bird with fresh-laid eggs, which are now in my possession. On 

 the 22nd. of July, 1851, I took a nest with two new-laid eggs, which are 

 also in my possession. I have at this moment, August 6th., 1851, a ne?t 

 with young ones, in a hedge, which divides my garden from my neighbour's. 

 And I see by my Journal that I have taken the nests of this bird from 

 March to August. 



In the "Gardener's Chronicle," August 9th., 1851, Mr. Waterton, the 

 cekbrated Naturalist, says, "I have now, (August 4th.,) in a close-clipped 

 holly-bush, a Hedge-Sparrow's nest, with three unfledged young ones in it. On 

 Wednesday last, it had three eggs in it. On Saturday, it contained three 

 naked birds." Also "I will farther add that, the year before. last, in the last 

 week in August, I found a Dicky Dunnock's nest here in a thick yew bush, 

 with four eggs in it." — Walton Hall, August ith. 



It is only a waste of time and your readers' patience, -to confute the silly 

 assertion as to the Cuckoo not laying its egg in the nest of the Hedge 

 Sparrow. All the Authors which I have consulted and have in my library, 

 (which are not a few.) mention this bird's nest either first, second, or third 

 in their list of birds, in the nests of which the egg of the Cuckoo is found. 



It has also been positively asserted that the caterpillar of Abraxas yrossul- 

 ariata is not found in the month of July. Now it so happens that I have 

 on more occasions than one found the caterpillars in August and beginning 

 of September; and am inclined to consider this insect double brooded, but 

 on this I will not be quite positive, till I have made further experiments. 

 I had this year, up to the 31st. of July, thirty caterpillars on a gooseberry 

 bush in my garden: these have been devoured, with the exception of ten, 

 which are now in the chrysalis form, by the common House Sparrow;"^ and 

 I have now twenty chrysalises in a box. 



Now, in the newspaper referred to, it has been positively stated, and 

 attempted to be defended that I am in error to all these facts. And when 

 I replied to confute these false assertions, my reply was refused insertion; and 

 I was obliged to send it to the "Gardener's Journal," in which it will be found 

 under the date August 2nd. 



From the foregoing extracts which I have b.rought to bear on this subject, 

 the public will now be in possession of sufficient evidence to confute and 

 disbelieve the very ungentlemanly remarks made by the writers on my obser- 

 vations at pages 11 and 12 of "The Naturalist." 



Chamiinster, Dorset, August IWi., 1851. 



* Mr. jrc' Intosh has forwarded to lis two of tliese pupce, wliich are undoubtedly those of 

 Abraxas orossulaiuata, and have the characteristic gold bauds. — B. R. M. 



