46 Lift History of Common Cuckoo. 



that the eggs had been " deposited by two different 

 birds, as they were different in colour, size and shape, 

 but I do not mean," he goes on, " that the same 

 cuckoo would not lay eggs quite as different in colour, 

 size and shape. One or more of the nest owner's 

 eggs must have been removed by one of the cuckoos, 

 as she is in the habit of doing so, by swallowing them, 

 wliei! a full chttch is laid before she deposits her own, 

 and I have never seen a meadow-pipit's nest with 

 fewer than four eggs to the clutch." .... These 

 two birds had a tremendous tussle, though, says Mr. 

 Craig, " they were not two days old and blind." 



He goes on to write : 



" We again visited the nest on June 9th to take a 

 snapshot, when we found only one of the cuckoos in 

 the nest and the other one outside. Having a young 

 pipit with us we put it in the nest. The young 

 cuckoo hoisted it again and again on its back, but the 

 pipit always got jammed near the top of the nest. 

 We then put in the other cuckoo, when a desperate 

 struggle commenced. Sometimes the birds put their 

 bill or head against the opposite side of the nest for 

 more pressure when commencing to climb. Several 

 times the top bird tumbled over the head of the other, 

 like a rider falling over the head of a horse. After a 

 short respite the birds became extremely restless, and 

 again commenced the struggle. Two snapshots were 

 then taken, but they were useless." 



" I again visited the nest with Mr. Barron, June 

 loth, when we found only one of the cuckoos in the 

 nest, and the other one outside ; but the photographer 

 failed to put in an appearance, having got otherwise 

 engaged. We then put the other cuckoo into the nest 



