the Economy of the Cuckoo. 183 



So violent a proceeding might defeat her end, by causing the 

 desertion of the owner . 



I have made notes of several cases where I have the best rea- 

 son for saying that the Cuckoo turned out one egg with the 

 intention of laying, and then, from some cause or other, did not 

 ultimately insert her own — in short, prepared a nest, but perhaps 

 had not an egg ready for exclusion at the time. For a long 

 while this used to puzzle me much. I have frequently met with 

 such a case; in fact, I do so every year. Last season I had 

 watched a Cuckoo so closely, that I was positively certain she 

 must lay somewhere near. I had also searched so much, that 

 1 felt sure there was no nest ready at hand except a Reed 

 Bunting's [Emberiza schcenichs) . To this I devoted myself, 

 as for years past 1 have wished to obtain a Cuckoo's egg in the 

 nest of this species, of which perhaps I annually look into some 

 five-and-twenty, and that in a place frequented by Cuckoos. 

 At last I said, when the Cuckoo hung round this tempting nest, 

 that I must be sure of the specimen I wanted. Three Bun- 

 ting's eggs were laid — the next morning there were only two to 

 be found. The Cuckoo had, as usual, turned out one or two, 

 but she, herself, would not lay, because, as I conclude, she did 

 not like the species. The nest of this bird, which I should have 

 thought very suitable, is, according to my experience, the one 

 least used by the Cuckoo. Dr. Baldamus includes the species 

 in his list ; but, I believe, instances must be rather rare. 



If I interpret Dr. Baldamus rightly, he says that all the eggs 

 of one Cuckoo are the same in colour, and are all destined for 

 the nests of one and the same species ; but that these are often 

 not ready, therefore the bird is compelled to dispose of them as 

 may chance, and consequently to a disadvantage. In the valley 

 of the Ouse, which I watch with great care, I know that the 

 Cuckoo usually lays in the nests oi Salicaria arundinacea, but 

 very nearly as often in those of S. phragmitis, the contents of 

 the two being, as all oologists are aware, very dijQFerent. I have 

 found-two types of Cuckoo's eggs, laid, as I am nearly sure, by 

 the same bird. Dr. Baldamus alleges that the eggs which do 

 not agree with his theory are exceptional. I would suggest, 

 however (and the numerous examples I have taken warrant 



N. S. VOL. I. o 



