94 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



Breeding habits: The migration of the Great 

 Spotted Cuckoo into Europe begins early in March, 

 and continues through that month into April, and about 

 the same dates apply to Palestine, although in Asia 

 Minor the bird is said not to arrive until the end of 

 March. The migration lasts through April in some 

 localities. This Cuckoo is gregarious on passage, 

 journeying in flocks. The haunts of the Great Spotted 

 Cuckoo are well-timbered localities, wooded districts, 

 especially where the timber occurs in groves. The bird 

 is no nest-builder, and, like the Common Cuckoo, 

 deposits its eggs in the nests of other species, to whom 

 all care of the young is transferred. Although this 

 habit had long been suspected, to Brehm must be given 

 the credit of its absolute discovery, which he made in 

 Egypt in 1850. Some species of Crow is usually 

 selected by this Cuckoo to play the part of foster- 

 parent. The selected species varies considerably ac- 

 cording to locality. Thus in Egypt the Hooded Crow 

 is chosen, in Palestine the Black-headed Jay, in Algeria 

 the Moorish Magpie and perhaps the Little Owl, and in 

 Spain usually the Common Magpie. Nothing appears 

 to be known respecting the pairing habits of this bird. 

 The hen Cuckoo carries her ^^^ in her beak, and inserts 

 it in the selected nest, which seems a very unnecessary 

 proceeding, seeing that the nests used by this species 

 are easily accessible, and seems to be an inherited habit 

 probably common to all parasitic Cuckoos. Perhaps 

 the habit has arisen through motives of safety, the bird 

 running much less chance of detection from the rightful 

 owners of the nest during the few moments taken up in 

 dropping an Q.gg from her bill, than she would otherwise 

 incur if she sat for some time on the nest to lay it there 

 in the usual way. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 



