THIRD SEASON (1920): NOTES 105 
habits of the Cuckoo might have been avoided if 
many observers had not claimed for their observa- 
tions, which were excellent in themselves, a too 
general application, and if they had not de- 
sired to see the results of special observations 
upon individuals extended to the species as a 
whole.” 
Although it might not appear so from this 
season’s account, we found a considerable number 
of Tree Pipits’ and Skylarks’ nests on the common, 
and after the ravages wrought by the Kestrel on 
the Meadow Pipits we endeavoured, so far as 
possible, to have one or more of these nests always 
available, lest on one of the Cuckoo’s laying days 
there should not be a Meadow Pipit’s nest in 
suitable condition for her. 
Although this Cuckoo A laid in this season of 
1920 the record number of twenty-one eggs, one 
must rid oneself, before passing on to ensuing 
chapters, of any impression that Cuckoos in general 
show anywhere near the same degree of prolificity. 
Had it not been for our engineering of the circum- 
stances it is obvious that Cuckoo A would have 
had far fewer favourable chances of laying, and 
in all cases where long series of eggs have been 
obtained from the same Cuckoo — some of which I 
