180 
FRANCIS H. HERRTCK 
a pointer or beagle hound, something unknown to the entire 
class of birds. Comment on the last remark is unnecessary 
in view of the following: 
12. In open or not too fragile nests, or such as the bird can 
enter without injuring or destroying them, it Jays its egg direct 
while sitting on the nest-wall. When available nests are inacces- 
sible, or when they are vigorously defended by their owners, it 
drops its egg on the ground, seizes it in bill and waits a favorable 
moment for inserting it quickly and unobserved in a suitable 
nest. (Baldamus.) In want of other appropriate nests, the fe- 
males will sometimes utilize those placed on or about buildings, 
not shunning the neighborhood of man. (Baldamus and others.) 
''If it finds no suitable nest of nurses in its region, it inserts its 
egg at haphazard in the nests of such kinds as it does not other- 
wise use, or in those nests in which the egg can come to nothing 
on account of the degree to which the brooding of the nurse's 
eggs has advanced, or it lays the egg upon the ground, and troubles 
itself no further." (Baldamus.) 
We regard the action of coming to buildings as simply a varia- 
tion of the usual practice, as when a robin nests on a porch, or a 
nighthawk deposits its eggs on the gravel roof of a city house. 
When this is done, or when the egg is dropped on the ground to be 
either removed or abandoned, how is it possible to know that the 
bird has previously made an exhaustive search for the proper 
nest, and failed in her quest? Some of these actions may be act- 
ually due to a lack of proper nests, but are more likely to result 
from failure to look for the nest, that is to the imperfect attune- 
meni or complete blocking of the usual instinct. 
13. ''The female visits those nests containing its eggs or its 
young, for the most part in the company but not too close com- 
panionship of the male, frequently, each day, and until the young 
leave the nest. Later they take no further interest in their pro- 
geny." (Baldamus and others.) Such statements imply a desire 
and an ability on the part of the parents to learn the fate of their 
offspring, and to render it assistance, if needed. No doubt, 
cuckoos have often been known to remain in the vicinity of a 
'stolen' nest, but the question arises whether they have been 
