THE SHINING CUCKOO 



131 



corpulent body the entire nest, and receiving daily the sustenance 

 intended for the young fly-catchers. 



The proceedings of the cuckoos in regard to their parasitical 

 habits are a mystery. The actual presence of the parasite's egg 

 in the warbler's nest is one of the strangest features of the 

 affair. The nest is usually the shape of a soda-water bottle ; it is 

 eight inches long, and about four inches in diameter at its 



Shining Cuckoos. 



(Bullcr) 



widest part. The entrance, which is at the side, is almost an inch 

 and a half across, and about one inch perpendicularly. The 

 upper portion of the nest somewhat overhangs the aperture, 

 forming a kind of hood. It would be almost impossible for a 

 cuckoo to enter the nest and lay the egg in it. The supposition 

 is that the egg is laid on the ground, and is carried by the cuckoo 

 hen and deposited in the nest. 



From observations made by many naturalists, it seems that 

 the cuckoo goes about its business with a great deal of forethought 



