284 BRITISH BIRDS. 



apparently twelve days in hatching, one Hedge-Sparrow 

 hatching two days before, and two others about the same 

 time as the Cuckoo. The mouth was pale yellow, without 

 spots. When it was thirty-two hours old the young Hedge- 

 Sparrows were found dead outside the nest. When two and 

 a half days old it ejected a young Wren put into the nest, but 

 it ceased to eject when about three days ten hours old. At 

 seventy-seven hours the bastard wing had largely developed. 

 At twenty days it fledged (ZooL, 1905, pp. 164-169). In a 

 diary by Mr. F. W. Headley, the following points may be 

 noted : — May 31st, young Cuckoo and three Hedge-Sparrows 

 in nest,' the latter much larger than their foster-brother, 

 suggesting that the Cuckoo had been hatched later. June 3rd, 

 Cuckoo still blind, but Hedge-Sparrows A\ith eyes open. June 

 5th, Cuckoo alone in nest. In colour it was at first bright 

 pink, with no down. Gradually the skin became almost 

 black {Knowledge, 1897, p. 256). Record of three eggs in 

 the same nest (J. G. Tuck, ZooL, 1906, p. 276). Three eggs 

 found in nests of the Hawfinch in the same neighbourhood 

 (J. Palmer, ZooL, 1902, p. 279). A record of an old Cuckoo 

 feeding a fledged young one {B. Yorks., Vol. I., p. 290). 

 A Cuckoo living in captivity for over two years {Trans. 

 Edin. Field N. Soc, Vol. III., Part 7). 



For an enquiry into the dimensions of the Cuckoo's egg 

 and the relation of the variations to the size of the eggs of the 

 foster parent with notes on coloration, etc., cf. O. Latter, 

 "Biometrika" I., Part II., pp. 164-176. Also for other 

 information see "Our Common Cuckoo and other Cuckoos and 

 Parasitical Birds," by R. H. Japp (1899). 



AMERICAN YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO Coccyzus 

 americanus L. S. page 290. 



The following occurrences of this species, additional J to 

 those mentioned by Saunders, who considered the bird as an 

 " assisted " migrant, have been recorded : — Ventnor {Isle 

 of Wight). — One picked up dead, October, 1896 {B. Hants, 

 p. 122). Menai Straits {Wales). — One picked up dead on 

 November 10th, 1899 (G. Dickinson, Ibis, 1900, p. 219). 

 Shepton Mallet {Somerset).— One shot October 6th, 1901 (R. 

 H. Read, Bull. B.O.C., XII., p. 26). Ringwood {Hants).— One 

 shot October 30th, 1901. It showed no sign of captivity, 

 and had been feeding upon the grubs of some species of saw-fly 

 (G. B. Corbin, ZooL, 1901, p. 474). 



Little Owl. — We shall be glad of any information relative to the 

 spread of the Little Owl from the centres of its introduction. 



{To be continued.) 



