VOL. xiv.J OBSKIIVATIONS ON A CUCKOO. 221 



to be noted about many of them which support the conclusions 

 advanced at the end of this paper. 



1ST Egg. 

 This was actually found at 8 p.m. (Summer Time, i.e. 

 7 p.m. Greenwich Time) on May 2oth, and although the third 

 of the series in order of discovery was by all available evidence, 

 such as stage of incubation, etc., laid on May 13th. It was 

 in the second nest of No. 4 pair with four of the fosterer's eggs. 



2XD Egg. 



b^ound at 8 p.m. on May 15th in the second nest of No. i 



pair with two of the fosterer's eggs. This was the first egg 



of the series to be discovered, but I am reasonably certain 



that it was the second actually to be laid, and laid on this day. 



3RD Egg. 

 Found at 11 a.m. on May 21st in the first nest, with three 

 eggs of No. 6 pair, but I am fully satisfied that it was laid 

 on Ma}' 17th. 



4TH Egg. 

 Fpund at 7 p.m. on May 19th, in the second nest, with one 

 egg of No. 9 pair. This was the second egg of the series 

 actually found, but I am convinced that it was the fourth 

 laid, and that on this day. 



5TH Egg. 

 Found on May 22nd, at 9 a.m., in the second nest, with 

 three eggs of No. 5 pair. On the 21st at noon this nest held 

 three eggs of the Pipit. Subsequent knowledge of the habits 

 of this Cuckoo shows that this egg was laid on the afternoon 

 of the 2ist and exchanged for a Pipit's egg, the fosterer 

 la^'ing a fourth egg before 9 a.m., as usual. 



6th Egg. 

 Found on May 24th at 8 a.m. in the third nest, with one 

 egg of No. I pair. On the 23rd at 3 p.m. this nest contained 

 one egg of the fosterer and the Cuckoo's egg must have been 

 deposited later the same afternoon. 



7TH Egg. 

 Found on ]\Iay 26th at 4 a.m. in the second nest, with one 

 egg of No. 3 pair. The eggs were all wet with dew, showing 

 that the Cuckoo had laid the previous afternoon, we having 

 seen the nest at mid-day, when it held two eggs of the fosterer. 

 It also shows that the Pipit did not remain at the nest during 

 the night. By 6 a.m. the Pipit had laid a third egg. 



