Observations on the Cuckoo. 457 
cuckoo to retain its egg till it meets with a 
nest in a suitable state to receive it. 
Though Mr. Jenner enumerates a variety 
of small birds in whose nests cuckoos deposit 
their eggs, yet he remarks, that in Glouces- 
tershire they give a decided preference to 
that of the hedge warbler. In this neigh- 
bourhood, where titlarks are numerous, their 
nests are usually selected for this purpose, 
and perhaps would be so very generally, were 
- they equally abundant in all situations; as, 
from being built on the ground, they are 
much more accessible to so large a bird as 
the cuckoo, than that of the hedge warbler, 
which is frequently placed in close thorn 
hedges, or thick bushes. If cuckoos laid in 
the nests of large birds, their young would 
not be able to dispossess their companions, 
and would probably soon perish for want of 
proper food. 
It is now well known, that cuckoos, in 
proportion to their size, lay remarkably small 
eggs, which vary considerably both in mag- 
nitude and colour; but as very inaccurate 
representations and descriptions have fre- 
quently been given of them, I have had co- 
loured engravings of the most usual varieties, 
madefrom drawings of good specimens. (See 
the annexed plate. ) 
3M 
