FIRST SEASON (1918): RECORD 17 
Although myself unaware of the fact until long 
afterwards, I will here anticipate matters by saying 
that Cuckoos lay actually in the nest when Meadow 
Pipits are the dupes, and full descriptions will be 
found in ensuing chapters of those occasions on 
which we watched them doing so. 
On the following evening, June 16, a friend 
accompanied me to the common. Later we were 
joined by Mr. F. Simmonds, a local resident, who 
had for some years displayed an interest in my 
ornithological pursuits. A collie came with him, 
and it was soon evident that the presence of the dog 
was very agitating to the Meadow Pipits, and 
probably helped us to an hour of crowded success. 
The first discovery was a Meadow Pipit’s nest with 
3+A 5 , the eggs being about four days incubated. 
Quickly we found a second nest with 4+ A 6 , these 
being about five days incubated. A third nest 
contained one fresh egg of a Meadow Pipit and one 
of another Cuckoo which I shall call B. I happened 
to be carrying some addled eggs of a Tree Pipit, 
and as it occurred to me that this was the first nest 
I had found of a Meadow Pipit without an egg of 
Cuckoo A, I substituted for the eggs of pipit and 
Cuckoo B, two of the Tree Pipit’s addled ones, 
thus securing a sporting chance of A yet placing 
c 
