THE CUCKOO'S FOSTER-PARENTS AND EGOS 497 



Another rule of almost invariable application in that each cuckoo 

 lays only a single egg in any one nest It in true that one or two 



install,-*--* li;i\c iv,-, -nth IMM-II ivronlrd >n tli' < 'out iiinit in \>liirli to 



ens in one nest are ascribed by the finder to the mime hen ; but the 



- * 



very fact that these remain almost unique among the numerous records 

 of two and even tlm-- eggs of the cuckoo having been found in the 

 game nest, is quite enough to establish the truth of the general rule. 1 

 Instances in which the eggs of two hen cuckoos have been found in 

 one nest are too numerous to be worthy of special record, 9 but those 

 in which the districts of three hens have overlapped, and all three 

 have laid in one nest, on naturally exceedingly rare. In the British 

 Isles five instances appear to have been recorded. In the Zoologixt 

 for 1865, p. 9618, Mr. T. E. Ounn records a nest with two young 

 cuckoos and an addled egg, as well as two young meadow-pipits. In 

 the same journal for 1900, p. 868, R Kelley writes that a friend of his 

 found a titlark's nest with three cuckoo's eggs, presumably in North 

 Devon. Country Life for June 16, 1906, contained a photograph of a 

 hedge-sparrow's nest with three cuckoo's eggs as well as four of the 

 rightful owner! (See PI. xxxvi.) The Rev. J. G. Tuck records a 

 meadow-pipit's nest with three cuckoo's eggs, but no others, in the 

 Zoologist for 1906, p. 276 ; and lastly, Mr. J. F. Green gives particulars 

 of a robin's nest from which three cuckoo's eggs were taken, but in 

 this case one was removed before the other two were laid. In both 

 these latter cases it is definitely stated that all three cuckoo's eggs 

 belonged to different types. On the Continent several instances have 

 also been recorded. The Hungarian National Museum contains a 

 robin's nest with three cuckoo's eggs; Herr A. Walter found two 

 wrens' nests, each containing three cuckoo's eggs (Orntthologitekt 

 Monarch rift, 1893, p. 463) ; but the earliest recorded instance appears 

 to be that mentioned in the Journal fur Ornithologie for 1874, p. 80, 



1 See C. Jex, ZtiUchrift filr Ooloffit, 180240. p. 88 ; V. Capek, Ornitholoffitcht Jahrbvch, 1808, 

 pp. 154-150. 



1 Thus Capek (Orn\thologiche Jahrbwh, 1800, p. 158) record* eleven instance* in hi* col lee. 

 tion ; while the Rey collection in 1802 included twenty-one. 



