64 The Oologists' Record, September i, 1922. 



away. His departure frequently warns the sitting hen, which shps 

 off quietly, and both birds disappear. Sometimes the hen sits very 

 closely, even when she has only one q^q, and will not leave the nest 

 until the tree is struck violently. Occasionally one or both of the 

 birds is aggressive or noisy, but such instances are rare. Generally 

 they either soar overhead or fly right away out of sight, although 

 they will return with almost uncanny speed should a marauding 

 Crow appear on the scene. 



It would, I think, be against the best interests not only of this 

 charming and attractive Httle Falcon, but also of those to whom our 

 rarer species mean so much, to particularise the areas in which most 

 of my notes have been taken ; but I may perhaps conclude by 

 observing that, given reasonable treatment, the Hobby is m no 

 immediate danger of extinction. 



MORE LIGHT ON THE HABITS OF THE CUCKOO. 



By The Editor. 

 Mr. Geo. J. Scholey has again made some far-reaching observa- 

 tions with regard to his " Wagtail-Cuckoo," and the results were 

 fully described and illustrated with most excellent photographs in 

 the " Graphic " of 5th and 12th August last. As perhaps many of 

 our readers missed seeing them we propose to quote at length, but 

 no doubt the back numbers of the " Graphic " could be ordered 

 through newsagents if required. 



Mr. Scholey's Cuckoo has rather out-heroded other Cuckoos in 

 her desire to secure nests for her eggs at the right periods. Of her 

 Mr. Scholey says : "To provide nests for her subsequent use the 

 ' Cuckoo at once proceeded to destroy the nest containing the in- 

 ' cubated eggs, but unfortunately for herself the entrance hole to 

 ' this nest was too small to admit her. She remained at the 

 ' entrance and kept the Wagtails from entering, with the result 

 ' that the eggs got cold and the Wagtails deserted. 



" For observation purposes, I removed the stone blocking the 

 ' entrance, and • she at once availed herself of the opportunity, 

 ' entered the hole and raided the nest. She broke all the eggs it 



' contained. 



******* 



" The particular pair of birds (Wagtails) set to work and rebuilt 

 " another nest — for what ? — only to receive the Cuckoo's e^g eight 



