890 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XV II. 



other hand the fosterer next often chosen is the Pipit (either rufulus or 

 striolatus), and although I have taken one Cuckoo's egg which might 

 have been mistaken for a Pipit's, so clearly did it resemble those of that 

 bird, this is the only one of that type I have seen in these Hills. 



It is possible that the want of discrimination displayed by the Com- 

 mon Cuckoo as to where it should put its egg, has resulted in the mar- 

 vellous variety of types and colours found in it. At the same time it is 

 possible that the egg is more or less adapting itself to local require- 

 ments in those localities in which any one fosterer greatly predominates. 

 To accord with this it'is, however, necessary to presume that Cuckoos are 

 regular in their migratory habits and visit the same breeding range one 

 generation after another. 



Authentic eggs of the Himalayan Cuckoo ( Cuculus saturatus) re- 

 semble the fosterers most often selected. 



The small Cuckoo ( Cuculus poliocephalus) lays two types of eggs 

 which may be called a pink type and a white type. Now it appears 

 that the white type is never found in Japan where the Cuckoo 

 invariably places its egg in the nest of Cettia, a Warbler whose eggs 

 only differ slightly in size, shape and texture and not at'all in colour- 

 ation from that of the Cuckoo. Here in India records shovr four eggs 

 of the pink type laid in the nests of Horornis and one in the nest of 

 OUgura, both genera laying eggs which somewhat resemble that of the 

 Cuckoo. 



In Cashmere, where the fosterers selected are generally such as lay 

 pure white or white faintly spotted eggs, the white type is the dominant 

 one and the pink type is rare. Mr. S. L. Whymper has lately taken 

 this type Iwice in the nests of fosterers laying white eggs, but these eggs 

 were found in a place adjacent to which Horornis was very plentiful, 

 and we may justly assume that Horornis is the popular fosterer there. 

 Of course also, both of Mr. Osmaston's eggs of the pink type were taken 

 in nests of the white-browed Shortwing (Drymoichares cruralis) which 

 lays pure white eggs, but here again it has since been found thai 

 Warblers of the Horornis group are the favourite fosterers. 



On the whole, therefore, it may ba taken as probable that the small 

 Cuckoo lays eggs which adapt themselves to their surroundings. The 

 Indian Cuckoo (Cuculus micropterus) lays very pale blue eggs and select 

 most often fosterers, such as Trochalopterum linatum and Larvivora 

 brunnea, which also lays blue eggs. Here the colour of the Cuckoo's 



