The Zoologist — March, 1873. 3433 



Atlantic Ocean, Balaena physalis and Catodon macrocephalus as 

 inhabiting the Norwegian seas, Delphinus delphis the western seas, 

 and Delphinus phocsena as common to all seas. 



J. E. Gray. 



November 5th, 1872. 

 Erratum. — Zool. S. S. 3360, line 10, for Southern Ocean read German Ocean. 



Some additional Remarks on the Question of the Colouring oj 

 Cuckoos' Eggs. By the Rev. A. C. Smith, M.A. 



It may be in the recollection of some of the readers of the 

 'Zoologist,' that, five years since, 1 invited the attention of British 

 ornithologists to the exceedingly interesting theory of Dr. Baldaraus, 

 in regard to the colouring of the eggs of the cuckoo,* and that I 

 followed up my remarks in a subsequent number with a translation 

 of the whole article in question from Naumannia ; t when I entreated 

 the careful consideration of English naturalists upon a subject, 

 which, however startling from its then novelty, yet contained a very 

 beautiful theory, and one which at all events demanded respect 

 from the well-known scientific attainments of its author. 



I am afraid, however, that in England this question has not 

 attracted the attention it deserved; for beyond an occasional 

 passing allusion to it from time to time in our Natural History 

 periodicals, and a few, a very few, but highly valued facts, all 

 tending to corroborate the view of Dr. Baldamus, which I have 

 received from obliging correspondents, I have been unable to find 

 that anybody in this country has handled the subject since my last 

 paper in 1868, for Mr. Rowley's article on " Certain Facts in the 

 Economy of the Cuckoo," appeared previously in the 'Ibisj'l and 

 though that gentleman was then unconvinced, and felt compelled 

 to withhold his belief from it, he expressed great admiration (not 

 only of the Doctor's researches, but) of his theory, which he 

 described " as beautiful as it is new," and even added, " I only wish 

 that fresh evidence may be brought forward of a nature so strong 

 as to make it an acknowledged fact." 



Now I attribute the general apathy on the part of our British 



• 'Zoologist' for 1868, S.S. pp. 1105—1118. + Id. pp. 1U5— 1166. 



I ' Ibis' for 1865, S.S. vol. i. pp. 178—188. 



