GREY CUCKOO. 131 



In tlie nest, which was arched over with strong heath, and had 

 a narrow entrance from the side, there was a newly dropped 

 Cuckoo''s egg along with one of the titlark's own. As I have 

 no reason to doubt the accuracy of this observation, it confirms 

 the statement of the celebrated Yaillant with respect to the 

 Gilded Cuckoo, although the correctness of it is questioned by 

 some, namely, that she puts her eggs into different kinds of 

 nests by conveying them with her bill, and satisfactorily ac- 

 counts for the way in which the Common Cuckoo, in some 

 instances at least, is enabled to deposit her eggs. 



" Two eggs of the Cuckoo are sometimes dropped in the same 

 nest. One forenoon about the middle of June last, in the nest 

 of a Titlark in my neighbourhood, built amongst heath, and 

 which contained three eggs, there were two Cuckoo"'s eggs. In 

 this nest it was observed that the Cuckoo''s eggrs were hatched 

 fully a day sooner than those of the Titlark. On the third 

 or fourth day after this, the young Titlarks were found lying 

 dead on the ground, and the Cuckoos were in possession of the 

 nest. They remained together in it nearly five days. On the 

 morning of the sixth day, however, one of them had disap- 

 peared, and the other, which was the strongest, was brought 

 up by its foster parents until it was able to provide for itself. 

 It is very probable that the young birds which so soon dis- 

 appear after they have been ejected from their nests, are car- 

 ried away by mice, as these animals prowl about at night in 

 pursuit of their food. I have heard the old Cuckoos crying 

 during every hour of the day and night. They cease to emit 

 their notes about the middle of July, and are seldom seen be- 

 yond that time. The young disappear about the middle or end 

 of September."" 



It has been supposed that Cuckoos do not pair, but live in 

 promiscuous concubinage, the fruits of which are consigned to 

 the charge of other birds ; and the supposition may prove cor- 

 rect, although as yet observations are wanting to confirm it. 

 The old birds arrive in full plumage, and depart without hav- 

 ing moulted. The young also take their departure previously 

 to moulting, which, as in the old birds, takes place in winter. 

 A young Cuckoo kept by the late Mr George Carfrae, being 



