CUCKOO. 



119 



between the first and second lot. In two or three females, dissected at 

 the time they first began to lay, we could only discover four or five 

 eggs that could possibly be laid successively; from the smallest of which 

 to what may be termed the secondary eggs, there was a sudden break 

 on 7 , not a gradual decrease in size. Now if this bird was able to con - 

 tinue laying for a month or six weeks together daily, all the eggs to be 

 protruded in that time would appear in regular gradation. If any bird 

 is killed at the time of laying the first egg, the number of eggs destined 

 to be excluded successively may be pretty easily ascertained ; and we 

 are confident no bird we are yet acquainted with, the Cuckoo excepted, 

 has the power of keeping back its eggs after it has received the stimulus 

 of the male fecundity ; and after the first egg is laid, the others must 

 successively follow, one after the other, each in twenty-four hours, 

 with a few exceptions in the larger undomesticated birds ; and we know 

 the force of nature is often sufficiently powerful to separate eggs from 

 the ovarium without male contact ; for pullets often lay eggs in a coop 

 without impregnation, and small birds often in cages, many instances 

 of which we have seen. These are of course unprolific. Cuckoos, on 

 the contrary, we conceive, are capable of retaining their egg after it is 

 arrived at maturity ; and we think there is much reason for supposing 

 this bird is endowed with so extraordinary a property, considering it 

 makes no nest, and that it is obliged to seek the nest of another bird 

 to deposit it in, and that nest fit to receive it, into which one egg only 

 is dropped, 1 and other nests to seek for the like purpose, it becomes not 

 only a work of labour, but of hazard and uncertainty ; therefore, did it 

 not possess such qualification, we should conceive the difficulties it had 

 to encounter were too numerous to ensure a continuation of its species. 

 Suppose this bird was obliged, like others, to lay its eggs successively 

 day after day, which we believe to be five or six, it is hardly probable 

 that five or six nests should be found in a state proper to receive them, 

 much less if she laid a greater number, as has been suggested. 



We think it reasonable to conceive, the female Cuckoo receives the 

 male's embraces from a certain period after her arrival till she is near 

 laying her first egg, and that she does not admit the male again till 

 after she has laid her usual number. If she has been fortunate in dis- 

 covering such nests as answer her purpose, and have laid all her first 

 forwarded eggs early in the season, then, after a short interval, it is 

 possible nature may stimulate again, and a second lot of eggs be pro- 

 duced ; so that, in either case, Cuckoos may lay eggs about the time 



1 Where two have been found in one nest they certainly were laid by different birds. 



