THE CUCKOO. 



the Cuckoo lays as many as five eggs 

 during a season, and although only 

 one specimen as a rule is found in the 

 nest of an intended foster-parent, as 

 many as three may be met with, but 

 whether deposited by the same indivi- 

 dual or not, it is, of course, impossible 

 to say. Hedge Sparrows and Robins 

 are the greatest victims, but even the 

 Jay, Wood Pigeon, and Carrion Crow 

 have been successfully imposed upon. 



With a view to finding out whether 

 the deceptive path of the bird that 

 " tells its name to all the hills around " 

 is a smooth one or not, some years ago 

 I had four wooden eggs made and 

 painted to resemble those of the Song 

 Thrush. I tried my counterfeits upon 

 several different species, such as Star- 

 lings, Song Thrushes, and Grasshopper 

 Warblers, and deceived them straight 



YOUNG CUCKOO WAITING FOR 

 ITS FOSTER-MOTHER WITH FOOD 



