The Zoologist— April, 1868. 1145 



On the supposed strange Variation in the Eggs of the Cuckoo. 

 Being a Translation from the German of a Paper by Heir 

 Baldainus* By the Rev. Alfred Charles Smith, M.A. 



In following up ray story of the colouring of the eggs of the cuckoo, 

 as given in the ' Zoologist' for March (S. S. 1105), with a literal trans- 

 lation of Heir Baldamus' paper, I have but one object in view ; and 

 that is, to place before the ornithologists of England as prominently 

 as possible what I conceive to be an extremely interesting theory, and 

 which, once started by so eminent a naturalist as Herr Baldamus, and 

 supported by so many proofs, deserves at all events very careful 

 examination, before it is discarded as improbable and rejected as 

 worthless. 



I would here take an early opportunity of mentioning that the 

 subject has received attention at the hands of Mr. George Dawson 

 Rowley, who published an able article on "Certain Facts in the 

 Economy of the Cuckoo," in the 'Ibis' for 1865 (new series, vol. i. 

 pp. 178 — 186), but which had not appeared when I wrote my paper 

 and read it before the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History 

 Society, of which I have the honour to be Secretary. Mr. Rowley, 

 indeed, does not incline to agree with Herr Baldamus' theory, though, 

 on the other hand, I have several notes, from various correspondents, 

 confirmatory of the German ornithologist's view j and Mr. Rowley 

 candidly says, " I cannot refrain from expressing my admiration at 

 his researches, which of themselves bear witness to his reputation as 

 an ornithologist:" and he continues, "the theory is as beautiful as it 

 is new, and I only wish that fresh evidence may be brought forward of 

 a nature so strong as to make it an acknowledged fact." Mr. Rowley 

 also adds, "It would be much more satisfactory if English readers 

 had the opportunity of studying Dr. Baldamus' article in their own 

 language." 



Fully agreeing with the sentiments thus expressed, while feeling 

 wholly incompetent as yet to pronounce any opinion of my own on 

 the question before us, I am glad, with the hearty concurrence of 

 Mr. Newman, to offer the readers of the 'Zoologist' (which will, 1 

 suppose, include every ornithologist in England) as accurate a trans- 

 lation of the whole of Herr Baldamus' article as I could make ; and 

 I am especially glad to do so at this season, since the subject will be 



* ' Naumannia' for 1853, pp. 307—326. 

 SECOND SERIES — YOL. III. R 



