120 
THE CUCKOO’S SECRET 
Cuckoo, either the second nest of No. 4 pair now 
containing two eggs, or the second nest of No. 7 
pair which had been sitting on five eggs for two 
days. 
At 9.30 a.m. we placed a hide within seven yards 
of No. 7’s nest. A second hide we placed later at 
a similar distance from No. 4’s nest. During the 
morning the Cuckoo was well in evidence, and I 
soon gathered the impression that she would use 
No. 4 nest instead of No. 7, which I was anxious 
for her to victimise to-day. At one time she settled 
in her favourite perch at the top of the pear tree (C) 
which she used when depositing her sixteenth egg 
last year, doubtless to watch No. 9 pair which she 
victimised two days later. 
About 1. 10 p.m. I suggested to Hawkins that 
he should have his lunch and be prepared to enter 
his hide, which commanded No. 4’s nest. Almost 
immediately I noticed the female Cuckoo (I knew 
it was the female because, for one reason, she is 
quite silent when alighting, whereas the males, upon 
alighting, almost invariably call) fly across the 
common into the trees (K) at the north-east end 
which is the natural position for her to take up 
when she intends to use No. 1 or No. 4 territory. 
Just before 1.30 I went across to Hawkins to tell 
