3472 The Zoologist — Apeil, 1873. 



that such do not exist ; I only say that after some eflForts I have 

 been unable to find one, though I have discovered both gigantic 

 and diminutive eggs of various members of the family of the 

 Sylviads. 



In Mr. Smith's remarks, for the most part, I concur, but must 

 still consider that what has been published is onl}' the inception 

 of the matter, which is as yet stib jndice. For these and kindred 

 questions, we want to fall in with "Alexandro magno rege in- 

 fiammalo cupidine aninialium naturas noscendi," of whom Lewes, 

 in liis ' History of Philosophy,' quotes Pliny as staling that he set 

 all his hunters, fishermen, &c., to collect specimens of Natural 

 History in the service of his tutor. 



Geokgi-; Dawson Rowley. 



Chichester House, East Cliff, Brighton, 

 March 5, 1873. 



The Eggs of the Cuckoo. By Henry Dodbleday, Esq. 



I HAVE no wish to enter into a controversy about the eggs of the 

 cuckoo, but as I assiduously collected the eggs of British birds for 

 thirty years, and during that period saw a great number of the eggs 

 of the cuckoo, I may be allowed to state I never met with anything 

 to confirm the theory of Dr. Baldamus. 



The eggs of the cuckoo are different from, and probably vary 

 less than, the eggs of any British bird which have markings upon 

 the shell. I have had a great many brought to me by birds'- 

 nesting boys, and they never made a mistake. 



I have several times seen the eggs of the cuckoo in the nest of 

 the hedgcsparrow and pied wagtail, but they have always been 

 similar, differing only in some specimens being a little paler than 

 others. 



I very much doubt whfelher many of the eggs mentioned in the 

 list really belonged to the cuckoo, and it is very remarkable that 

 the hedgcsparrow is not mentioned as one of the foster-parents, 

 since, as far as my observation goes, the cuckoo more frequently 

 places her eggs in the nests of this bird than in those of any other 

 species. 



I was surprised to see the wood wren in the list. I think this 

 must be a mistake, on account of the construction and small size 

 of the interior of the nest. 



