CUCKOOS. 



Some theories about the birds and their egg's. 



In spite of the interest which has always been taken in 

 Cuckoos and their habits, there are yet many points which are 

 unsolved or only partly solved, and others concerning which 

 there is still much controversy. Of late Cuckoo observers 

 have been much more methodical and scientific in their 

 observations, and well in the forefront of these observers 

 stands Mr. Edgar Chance, with whose wonderful work 

 I think we are all well acquainted. But even his work 

 leaves a wide field of other work open and inviting our 

 attention. We must remember, as Mr. Chance himself has 

 justly pointed out, that his observations have been carried out 

 upon one Cuckoo. It is true that this very fact has added to 

 the value of his deductions in some respects, but one cannot 

 draw general deductions from one bird, nor can we say /or 

 certain that each individual Cuckoo would behave in the 

 same way under diiferent circumstances. 



Some of the points which I would like to refer to to- 

 night are as follows : — 



1. Do Cuckoos return yearly to the same breeding- 



ground ? 



2. Do Cuckoos invariably deposit their eggs in the nest 



of the same species of foster-parent ? 



3. Do Cuckoos ever share the same breeding or egg-laying 



area ? 



4. How many eggs do Cuckoos lay in a season ? 



5. At what intervals do Cuckoos lay ? 



6. How do Cuckoos deposit their eggs in other birds' nests ? 



7. How many, if any, of the fosterer's eggs do Cuckoos 



take ? 



8. What does the Cuckoo do with the stolen eggs? 



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