But the American cuckoo is in this predicament, for she makes her own nest and has eggs and young successively hatched, all at the same time.

It has been both asserted and denied that the American cuckoo occasionally lays her eggs in other birds' nests; but I have lately heard from Dr.

Merrill, of Iowa, that he once found in Illinois a young cuckoo, together with a young jay in the nest of a blue jay (Garrulus cristatus); and as both were nearly full feathered, there could be no mistake in their identification.

I could also give several instances of various birds which have been known occasionally to lay their eggs in other birds' nests.