96 Further Facts and some Results. 



egg into the nest with her bill is, I think, unques- 

 tionable, as the pipit's nest before adverted to was in 

 such a situation, under a large tuft of heather, that 

 no cuckoo could possibly have laid in it, and I found 

 the nest by the mere chance of seeing the pipit come 

 out, after nearly treading upon it." 



I have given these records mainly because the 

 writers in certain respects proceed without prepos- 

 session, and may influence later writers, and when 

 thus regarded their observations are the more valu- 

 able when we adjust and set them in line. 



It is proved by my own experience, as well as that 

 of several others, that two cuckoos' eggs are some- 

 times to be found in one nest : sometimes more nearly 

 like each other, sometimes very different. Here, on 

 this point, is the experience of a correspondent of 

 The Field, under date June, 1894 • 



" Two cuckoos' eggs in one nest. — While strolling 

 over Ashtead Common, in Surrey, Saturday, I noticed 

 a hedge-sparrow dart hurriedly out of a gorse bush a 

 few feet away, and on looking into the bush I found 

 her nest, which contained three of her own eggs, and 

 two of those of the cuckoo. I believe it a rare oc- 

 currence to find two eggs of this bird in the same 

 nest. The eggs were totally unlike each other ; one 

 being much larger and of a lighter colour, while 

 both were slightly set. This locality seems to be a 

 favourite resort of this bird, for on the same after- 

 noon I heard at least a dozen different cuckoos calling 

 from various directions at the same time. — \\'. R. 

 Pope." 



And to this the Editor of Tlie Field himself gave 

 the following note : 



