82 
THE CUCKOO’S SECRET 
nest 8 2 . She then returned to the centre orchard, 
but not to the pear tree. A few moments later 
she uttered the familiar “ bubble,” to which a 
male responded promptly by “ cuckoo ”-ing, as 
on some previous occasions immediately after the 
egg had been deposited. Owen, whose viewpoint 
was perhaps the best, noticed that prior to the 
original glide a Pipit had led the way by flying down 
to the spot where we subsequently found the nest 
containing the Cuckoo’s egg and one of the 
fosterer’s. Later events proved this to be the only 
Meadow Pipit’s nest then available, though there 
were some of Skylarks and Tree Pipits in suitable 
state had the Cuckoo been disposed to make use of 
them. 
On the next day, June 13, whilst P. B. Smyth 
was approaching the common from the south-east 
side about 2.10 p.m. he saw a female Cuckoo flying 
away and heard her “ bubbling ” during flight. 
At 2.25 a female Cuckoo was in the centre orchard 
but remained for only five minutes before she flew, 
accompanied by a small bird, into the forest on the 
south side. She remained there for two or three 
minutes and then flew round the edge of the 
common into a tall ash tree (K 1 ) at the north-east 
corner, which commanded a perfect view of No. 1 
