40 
THE [CUCKOO’S SECRET 
but owing to its clever concealment the nest, containing two 
eggs and the twelfth egg of Cuckoo A, was not actually 
found until 8 p.m. 
Sunday , June 6. — Fifth egg laid. 
Tuesday , June 8. — Nest restarted. 
Fifth Nest (5). 
Tuesday, June 15 . — The Cuckoo disclosed the location of 
this nest to Frankie Simmonds by flying down at 3 p.m. 
when it contained two eggs. 
Friday , June 18, 3 p.m. — The nest was observed to 
contain five fresh eggs at this hour, immediately preceding 
the deposition of Cuckoo A’s eighteenth egg. 
Up till the last clutch of this fosterer the eggs had been 
unusually uniform in marking, but in the last nest two ol 
the eggs were entirely different in size and colour. 
Close observation for the remainder of the season proved 
that this pair made no attempt to build a sixth nest. 
No. 2 Pair of Meadow Pipits 
First Nest (4). 
Sunday , May 2, 1920. — Pound this nest containing four 
eggs and restarted it. Incubation not noted. 
Second Nest (4). 
Friday , May 21, 1920. — Found by Frankie Simmonds 
containing four eggs, probably already incubated. Left bird 
sitting. 
Wednesday , May 26. — Restarted by transference of her 
eggs to nest of a Whinchat, which however deserted. 
Shortly afterwards this pair mysteriously disappeared ; 
presumably destroyed by the Kestrel ( Falco tin nun cuius, L ), 
referred to elsewhere. 
