Correspondence. 147 
There is reason to believe that cuckoos allach themselves to certain species of 
foster-parents — one cuckoo-clan being normally parasticon the pied wagtail, another 
on the hedge-sparrow, and so on. Definite types of cuckoo's egg are placed among 
the true eggs of each bird, and to some extent resemble them. In reedwarblers' 
nests, for example, cuckoo's eggs are usually dark green approximating to the dark 
eggs of this warbler. If anyone would find cuckoo's eggs readily, let him first find 
reedwarbler's nests ; and they will be found in the l>eds of canelike, grey-plumed 
reeds which shoot fast in this month by many pools and rivers. In hill countries 
where reeds are rare, the best place for finding cuckoo's eggs is in titlarks' nests ; 
and one good wa_\' to find these nests is to walk among the dead grass on the moors 
in the opposite direction to that of the prevailing wind, and spy beneath the over- 
arching grass tufts, 
<>4>0 
Correspondence. 
BADLY FEATHERED YOUNG BUDGERIGARS. 
Sir. — For some time I have Ijeen wondering why young budgerigars at times 
come out of the nest badly feathered I believe most people put it down to 
inbreeding. A few years ago I had a pair coming from different parts of the 
country. The first nest of young were fine, big, strong well-feathered birds- 
About moulting time (but I did not notice this then) the second nest were small and 
and badly-feathered. This made mc think it could not be inbreeding and I looked 
for other causes. At first I thought, as most of these badly-feathered birds 
came out in liie height of sunniier that it was the heat and the husk, 
but sometimes some of the young were perfect and others badly-feathered from the 
same nest. This put me on to another track. Last year I noticed that the few 
badly-featheied ones I had were after the old birds had commenced to moult. Was 
the moult of the old birds when the eggs were laid, the cause? This year a hen 
commenced to moult very badly and laid five eggs, only one hatching and to-day the 
young one is in the husk, tbirty-llute days old, and has hardly a feather on it. I 
should like to know what other breeders think about it. 
JOHN W. MARSDEN. 
Harrogate, lo/vi/lS. 
<^ 
NESTING OF FIELDFARE IN ENGLAND. 
Sir, — I have read that Fieldfares do not nest in England, I do not know if 
this opinion is general, but it is not my experience, as I have known of a small 
colony here (Staffordshire) for three or four years, and have taken a clutch of eggs 
on two occasions. 
My attenion was fiist called to it by my brother-in-law who is an ardent egg 
collector ; he did not know the bird or its call. 
We find their nests very high in Fir trees and they are lined with fresh-green 
grass. 
ARTHUR SILLS. 
Arley. 2s/v/l8. 
