286 FAVOURITE SONG BIRDS 



unfitted for the purpose), but in our islands the nests 

 of the Hedge Accentor, the Meadow Pipit, and 

 the Reed Warbler seem to be the favourites. Less 

 frequendy a Pied Wagtail, a Wren, a Finch, or a 

 Bunting is selected for the role of foster parent. 

 It is difficult to say exactly how many eggs each 

 individual female lays during the season ; we 

 provisionally suggested from five to eight, but 

 possibly this number will have to be increased. 

 The eggs of the Cuckoo vary considerably in colour, 

 and present several well-marked types, the females 

 producing each type seeking as far as possible to 

 insert them in nests where the eggs show similarity 

 in colour. The usual ground-colour varies from 

 greyish-white to greenish-white, spotted, blotched, 

 and freckled with various shades of olive-brown or 

 reddish-brown, intermingled with minute specks of 

 very dark brown. Some eggs closely resemble those 

 of the Sky- Lark, others those of a Wagtail, a 

 Reed Warbler, or a Meadow Pipit; whilst there is a 

 blue and spotless variety known similar to that of 

 the Redstart. We ought also to say that the young 

 Cuckoo (or the foster parents) ejects the other 

 nestlings, but the precise age or time at which this 

 is done is by no means clear. We would refer the 

 reader to our work Jottings about Birds for fuller 

 information. 



The food of the Cuckoo is principally com- 

 posed of caterpillars, especially such as are covered 



