Fulton. — The Long-tailed Cuckoo. 125 



of this. Even in Australia one comes across numberless in- 

 stances of eggs of the various Cuckoos being placed among 

 clutches of eggs of other birds, but not one is recorded in 

 Campbell's book of the Cuckoo having thrown out or devoured 

 the egg of the nest- builder or of any other bird. On the 

 other hand, many instances are reported of the builder having 

 thrown /Out the egg of the parasite, or covered it up with 

 feathers, before laying its own eggs. This generally happens 

 when the Cuckoo is foolish enough to deposit its egg in the 

 nest before it is fully completed, or before the eggs of the 

 rightful tenants are laid. Many cases are recorded of the 

 destruction or desertion of the Cuckoo's egg by the nest- 

 builder, but few or none of the Cuckoo throwing out or eating 

 the eggs of other birds (38). 



Bendire says of the American Yellow-billed Cuckoo, "lam 

 aware that this species has been accused of destroying the 

 eggs, and even of eating the young, of smaller birds, but I am 

 strongly inclined to believe that this accusation is unjust, and 

 requires more substantial confirmation. I have never had any 

 reason to suspect their robbing small birds' nests, and I am 

 upheld in this position by a number of careful observers whom 

 I have questioned on this important subject." Of all the 

 American Cuckoos mentioned by Bendire two instances only 

 are mentioned of this unpleasant habit. The Eoad-runner 

 {Geococcyx), of South California, was stated by Mr. Anthony to 

 have devoured a nest of young Finches, and the Mangrove 

 Cuckoo, of Florida and Key West, was said by Audubon " to 

 be fond of sucking the eggs of other kinds of birds in the 

 absence of their owners." No specific instance is given of 

 any of the Cuckoos being caught nest-robbing, and here, 

 as in other countries, the accusation is manifestly un- 

 fair (38tt). Among the parasitic Cowbirds the curious habit 

 obtains of puncturing the eggs of the nest - builder, but 

 seldom of throwing them out of the nest. This is done 

 purposely by the Cowbird with beak or claws, probably 

 to prevent the eggs from hatching. The parasite has 

 evidently learned that it is as well to refrain from openly 

 interfering with the eggs of the host, but that by making 

 minute punctures in them it will insure their destruction, 

 as the owner, on finding an egg will not hatch, will 

 undoubtedly throw it out herself. Bendire says this punc- 

 turing is so often seen that he is certain it is done in- 

 tentionally, but whether by beak or claws is not known. It is 

 undoubted that eggs of the builder are found beneath the nest 

 at times, but there is sufficient reason to think that this is due 

 to the disappointed parent discarding the addled eggs. This 

 habit of puncturing may have arisen from mere accidental 

 contact in the first place, and this, by enabling the young Cow- 



