NOTES AND QUERIES. 229 



of the egg round the middle, and a darkening of the smaller end, which 

 were noticeable. Strangely enough, when passing the spot some three 

 weeks later, I found another Wren's nest within a few yards of the former 

 one, in which was another Cuckoo's egg in addition to three of the rightful 

 owner. Being somewhat curious to ascertain whether there was any 

 peculiarity in the two Cuckoo's eggs which would indicate their common 

 parentage, I took the second specimen home and compared it with the 

 other, with the result that I found an almost perfect uniformiy both in size 

 and colour. Now, however doubtful be the significance of the former fact, 

 it must be admitted that the latter is at least suggestive ; as, although the 

 eggs of different individuals of the same species may be so variable as to 

 render the circurastauce of two being found of the same size but a slender 

 basis for identifying them with the same bird, yet the manner in which the 

 colouring matters and markings are disposed furnishes an almost sure test, 

 and I found in each egg the same indefinite zone and somewhat darkened 

 smaller end. Assuming — and there certainly seems no reason to regard 

 the assumption as insecure — that the two eggs were the produce of the 

 same individual, the instance would seem to lend credence to the likelihood 

 expressed in Prof. Newton's ' Dictionary of Birds' (article " Cuckoo," pt. I., 

 pp. 122-124) of individual female Cuckoos only introducing their eggs into 

 the nests of one particular species, and not indiscriminately into those of 

 any of the birds usually selected as foster-parents. In the two cases in 

 point, it is certain that the nests chosen for the introduction of the alien 

 eggs were not selected as being the only available or most convenient. 

 Indeed, the insertion of the egg in the former could not have been un- 

 attended with considerable difficulty, for it must have been deposited 

 with either the bird's bill or feet without alighting ; and the vicinity is one 

 abounding in hedgerows and banks which afford suitable nesting-places for 

 Hedgesparrows and Robins and other dupes of the Cuckoo. — W. C. J. 

 Ruskin Butterfield (Stanhope Place, St. Leonards-on-Sea). 



Cuckoo's Eggs in Whitethroat's Nest. — On May 28th I found a 

 Greater Whitethroat's nest containing two eggs and one of a Cuckoo's. 

 I took the Cuckoo's egg. Going again on the 31st, I found the Whitethroat 

 had laid one more egg, and had then commenced to sit. This is rather 

 unusual, as the normal number of eggs is generally five. The nest was 

 situated in a hedge at the top of a high bank, bordering a road which was 

 little frequented. I mentioned the fact to Prof. Howes, and he suggested 

 that it might be of some interest to your readers, as a Cuckoo laying in a 

 Greater Whitethroat's nest is of somewhat rare occurrence. — W. Leonard 

 S. Loat (Southborough, Tunbridge Wells). 



Early Laying of Cuckoos. — Cuckoos seem to me to have laid 

 unusually early this season, and the following dates may therefore be 



