CUCKOO. 
119 
between the first and second lot. In two or three females, dissected at 
the time they first began to lay, we could only discover four or five 
eg-g-s that could possibly be laid successively; from the smallest of which 
to what may be termed the secondary egg’s, there was a sudden break 
off, not a g-radual decrease in size. Now if this bird was able to con- 
tinue laying- for a month or six weeks together daily, all the eg’gs to be 
protruded in that time would appear in regular gradation. If any bird 
is killed at the time of laying the first egg, the number of eggs destined 
to be excluded successively may be pretty easily ascertained ; and we 
are confident no bird we are yet acquainted with, the Cuckoo excepted, 
has the power of keeping back its eggs after it has received the stimulus 
of the male fecundity ; and after the first egg is laid, the others must 
successively follow, one after the other, each in twenty-four hours, 
with a few exceptions in the larger undomesticated birds ; and we know 
the force of nature is often sufficiently powerful to separate eggs from 
the ovarium without male contact ; for pullets often lay eggs in a coop 
without impregnation, and small birds often in cages, many instances 
of which we have seen. These are of course unprolific. Cuckoos, on 
the contrary, we conceive, are capable of retaining their egg after it is 
arrived at maturity ; and we think there is much reason for supposing 
this bird is endowed with so extraordinary a property, considering it 
makes no nest, and that it is obliged to seek the nest of another bird 
to deposit it in, and that nest fit to receive it, into which one egg only 
is dropped,’ and other nests to seek for the like purpose, it becomes not 
only a work of labour, but of hazard and uncertainty ; therefore, did it 
not possess such qualification, we should conceive the difficulties it had 
to encounter were too numerous to ensure a continuation of its species. 
Suppose this bird was obliged, like others, to lay its eggs successively 
day after day, which we believe to be five or six, it is hardly probable 
that five or six nests should be found in a state proper to receive them, 
much less if she laid a greater number, as has been suggested. 
We think it reasonable to conceive, the female Cuckoo receives the 
male’s embraces from a certain period after her arrival till she is near 
laying her first egg, and that she does not admit the male again till 
after she has laid her usual number. If she has been fortunate in dis- 
covering such nests as answer her purpose, and have laid all her first 
forwarded eggs early in the season, then, after a short interval, it is 
possible nature may stimulate again, and a second lot of eggs be pro- 
duced ; so that, in either case, Cuckoos may lay eggs about the time 
* Where two have been found in one nest they certainly were laid by different birds. 
