99 [Vol. xlii. 



From the above, I think we may accept it as proved that 

 Cuckoos generically, specifically, and individually select — and, 

 under normal conditions, keep to — one particular fosterer. 

 But it also seems evident that, when no nest of that particular 

 fosterer is available, she will place her egg in some other 

 bird's nest, preferably in one of a species closely allied to 

 the fosterer, but, in an emergency, in any bird's nest within 

 her special breeding-area. As to whether she sometimes 

 leaves her own area to hunt for a nest of her own special 

 fosterer elsewhere is not so definitely proved. Personally, 

 I think she does, and I would draw your attention to 

 the exhibits of the Khasia Hills Cuckoos' eggs with Cisticola, 

 Suya, AntJnts, etc. (Boxes Nos. 10 to 12). Here you will find 

 several specimens of eggs of very unusual character and 

 evidently laid by the same bird, though these eggs were 

 deposited far apart from one another. Again, you will 

 remember that Mr. Chance's Cuckoo, in the gaps in her 

 laying within the watched area, was not seen about the 

 ground. Obviously she was elsewhere, and possibly she was 

 elsewhere for this very purpose. 



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



In regard to this, I have no personal doubt hut that they 

 frequently do so, though the diiferent Cuckoos may impose 

 upon different species of birds. 



Dr. Williams, to whom I have already referred, has mnny 

 instances of eggs of two, three, or more Cuckoos being 

 found within the same area, but deposited in the nests of 

 different foster-parents. 



Mr. Owen, whose most beautiful series of five eggs from 

 the nests of Hedge-Sparrows are exhibited in Box No. 3, 

 informs me that these were found over a considerable area 

 in which one, if not two, other Cuckoos were also laying. 

 The series consisted of several more eggs than we have 

 shown, but these were dispersed before the remaining five 

 were so kindly given to me. 



