n8 
Currcs[>oiidei}CC. 
I ouglit, perhaps, to say that I don't profess to record the earliest 
possible dates of all these birds in this neighbourhood, as I don't go about 
enough for this. But, as one gets older, one looks forward more and more 
eagerly to the coming of these charming visitors, and there is no doubt that 
records extending over a series of years in the same nenghbourhood are of 
considerable scientific value. We cannot, however, all aspire to equal the 
record in this matter of the Gurney family in Norfolk, who for io6 year.^i 
kept a list of the earliest appearances of the Cuckoo, the earliest being on 
April 9th, 1752, and the latest on May 7th, 1767, the mean of the 106 years 
being April 23rd. 
Hazeleigh Rectory, Maldon, Essex, 5/V./20. G. H. RAYNOR, M.A. 
THE COMING OF THE CUCKOO, ETC. 
Sir, — I was interested in the note of the Coming of the Cuckoo. 
Tt is one of my trials that, through defective hearing, I cannot hear 
the cuckoo's note, and yet can quite easily distinguish the songs of other birds. 
Cuckoos seem very abundant this year in this district, and I have seen 
many feeding on the ground, what on I do not know. 
There seems to be a lot of mystery attached to the cuckoo as regards 
its eggs. My friend Mr. Hart, of the Museum, Christchurch, Hants., has an 
unique collection of cuckoo's eggs, taken from nests of nearly all its 
insectivorous hosts. They invariably mimic the clutch with which they were 
laid, though naturally, of course, differing in size. Mr. Hart holds two 
theories : 
(1) That cuckoos reared by, say, a hedge-sparrow, always deposit their 
eggs in a hedge-sparrow's nest, and so on. 
(2) That, as the season progresses, so do cuckoos lay their eggs 
indiscriminately in the later nests of all suitable species. 
If the latter theory be correct, one marvels at ' the total change of 
colouration in the eggs from the same bird ! This is rather badly put, but, 
I think it will express my meaning. 
In this district we are in a direct line with one of the great migratory 
routes, and all the migrants are daily arriving in increasing numbers ; many, 
no doubt, to pass on North, to make room for later arrivals. All the 
warblers are well in evidence. Swallows are inspecting last year's nesting 
sites. I have seen many swifts, but no martin as yet. The woods are alive 
with song, but, as yet I have not heard the Night'ngale ! though I expect she 
is here. Funny how a nightingale is always spoken of as " she !" 
Langton Matravers, Dorset. 3/V./1920. W. EDMUNDS. 
THE COMING OF THE NIGHTINGALE. 
The Nightingale was first reported as singing in this district on April 
loth, and I have heard one fixm my bedroom window singing n'ghtly for 
the past three weeks, and I still do so. Most of the migiants I have setn ; the,' 
are now settled and nesting or prospecting, mostly the former. 
Lingfield, Surrey, 8/V./20. W. T. PAGE. 
