THE CUCKOO’S SECRET 
196 
desertion by uncommon fosterers is far higher than 
that by normal hosts. 
Be that as it may, we find that in our islands 
the usual dupes of the Cuckoo are the Meadow 
Pipit, Reed Warbler, Hedge-sparrow, Pied Wagtail, 
Robin, and Sedge Warbler. After these come the 
Tree Pipit, Yellow and Grey Wagtail, White- 
throat, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Yellow Bunting, 
Reed Bunting, Spotted Flycatcher, and Skylark, 
all of which, in particular localities, may have 
Cuckoos regularly parasitic upon them. Other 
fosterers, such as Willow Wren, Chiffchaff, Linnet, 
Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Nightingale, Song Thrush, 
Blackbird, etc., belong, very possibly, to the 
accidental category.* 
Now in any one season by very far the larger 
number of Cuckoos’ eggs found are in nests of the 
first half-dozen species mentioned, although the 
second division of dupes make a fair show. Eggs 
discovered in the nests of other species form a very 
small percentage of the whole number, so small 
indeed that it can reasonably be taken as evidence 
that Cuckoos do not normally deposit their eggs 
away from the customary fosterers. No one has 
* The scientific names of all these birds will be found in the 
list on p. xiii. 
