The Zoologist — April, 18(58. 1157 



the red eggs amongst their green layings (clutches),* and vice 

 versa. 



No other motive seems probable, and the choice between the two 

 above mentioned does not seem to me to be difficult. 



Therefore 1 do not hesitate to set forth, as a law of Nature, that the 



eggs of the cuckoo are, in a very considerable degree, coloured and 



marked like the eggs of those birds in whose nests they are about to 



be laid, in order that they might the less easily be recognised f by the 



Josler-parents as substituted ones. % 



* " Gelege." " Loiters," as we say in Wiltshire. 



t It must, however, by no means be asserted that in currying out this object 

 Nature cannot and does not employ other means as well. 



{ It is not without great significance for us that this rule has reference (as it 

 appears) to almost all the species of the true cuckoo. 



1. Cuculus fiavus, Gm., according to Tliienemann (1. c p. 85) has reddish gray- 

 white or reddish yellow-gray eggs, with some, scarcely visible, very fine ash-gray or 

 reddish gray dots and specks, massed together at the larger end, in the form of a 

 wreath, and comparatively scattered over the remaining surface. These were found 

 by Boie and Macklot in the nests of Enicurus coronatus, Tern., and Megalurus 

 palustris, Horxf., which have eggs partly similar. 



2. C. cineraceus, Vig. and Horsf., lays eggs of a dirty reddish white, more in- 

 clining to gray or yellow, almost without spots : they were found by Dr. Preiss in the 

 ne.sts of Meliphaga fulvifrons, and by Gould in those of Rhipidura motacilloides. 

 Upon these Dr. Thienemann makes the observation, " It is worthy of remaik that the 

 egj;s of many New Holland birds also, especially of the division of Meliphaga, have a 

 reddish ground." 



3. The eggs of C. solitarius, Cuv. (according to Levaillanl), are reddish white, 

 powdered with light brown specks, and consequently extremely like the eggs of 

 Saxicola superciliaris, Malurus macrourus, Sylvia coryphea aud Turdus reclamator. 



4. C serratus, Sparrm., edolius, Cuv. (likewise according to Levaillanl), lays its 

 clear white eggs in the nests of Motacilla capensis, Malurus subflavus, and other small 

 insectivorous birds. 



5. C. niger, L. (according to the statement of General Hardwicke), lays its eggs, 

 which are rather large and of a greenish gray-white, evenly covered with very fine 

 grayish brown and yellow-brown specks, in crows' nests. They have, moreover, a 

 great resemblance to the eggs of many of the crows. 



6. C. lucidus, Lath. Inasmuch as Acanthiza diensensis and chrysorhcea, Glyciphila 

 fulvifrons, Malurus cyaneus and others of this genus, and Petroica multicolor, are 

 known as foster-parents of this bird, so a fair number of its eggs varies as regards 

 their colouring aud marking, exactly in the same manner as with the eggs of our 

 cuckoo. One finds the ground while and speckled with red and reddish brown in a 

 variety of shades, mostly with numerous delicate spots, which collect near the larger 

 end, and often form a distinct wreath; or with large confused specks, oftentimes 

 heaped on one another, as is the case with many species of fowls. Then again there 



