CUCKOO. 307 



than fifty-two European species, in whose nests the egg 

 of the cuckoo has been found more or less frequently, 

 and yet, even this, is probably not an " exhaustive" 

 series. In this country the eggs of the cuckoo are most 

 commonly found in the nests of the hedge-warbler, 

 pied wagtail, skylark, meadow pipit, and reed-warbler 

 (Salicaria strepera) ; but it is somewhat singular that 

 the latter, although, perhaps, the most frequently 

 used of all, should be almost invariably omitted 

 from our published lists. In my notes on that species 

 (p. 117), I have recorded several instances of both 

 eggs and young cuckoos being found in the pretty 

 pendant nests of this marsh warbler, and whether 

 placed amongst reeds or in garden bushes, I know 

 none, from their construction, so difficult of access, 

 unless the egg, as above stated, be conveyed in the 

 beak. Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear observed a young 

 cuckoo fed by a pair of red-backed shrikes, and state 

 that one had been also observed to enter the nest of a 

 magpie, though at that time supposed to have done so 

 more for the sake of sucking than laying eggs. The 

 occurrence also of two eggs in one nest has been 

 occasionally noticed ; in which case it is generally sup- 

 posed that two cuckoos have accidentally selected the 

 same nursery; and I question if even the amiable 



trochilus, Accentor modularis, Troglodytes vulgaris, Saxicola 

 rubetra, Motacilla alba, M. flava, Anthus campestris, A. pratensis, 

 A. arboreus, A. obscuras, A. cervirms ? Alauda arvensis, A. cristata, 

 A. arborea, Emberiza citrinella, E. schoeniclus, Loxia chloris, Linota 

 cannabina, Saxicola stapazina, Lanius collurio, Luscinia luscinia, 

 Hypolais vulgaris, Phyllopneuste rufa, Calamoherpe turdina, C. 

 phraepnitis, Begulus flavicapillus, Fringilla ccelebs, F. monti- 

 fringilla, Passer domesticus, Cyanecula suecica, Turdus merula, 

 T. musicus, Locustella nsevia, Parus major, Acanthis linaria, 

 Pyrrhula rubicilla, Garrulus glandarius, besides a Pica, a Turtur, 

 and a Palumbus. 



