the only specific difference between the eggs of the three species." A Redwing's egg, which we have seen, is also very similar to many of those of the Blackbird. Of the Fieldfare Thrush, we are supplied with the following very interesting information. "We had, during a long ramble through those almost impassable [Norwegian] woods, met with many nests of a previous summer, which we supposed must have been once tenanted by the birds of which we were in search; and after having climbed many a tree to no purpose, were returning home disappointed, when our attention was attracted by the harsh cries of several birds, which we at first supposed must be Shrikes, but which afterwards proved to be Fieldfares anxiously watching over their newly established dwellings. We were soon delighted by the discovery of several of their nests, and were surprised to find them (so contrary to the habits of other species of this genus with which we are acquainted) breeding in society. Their nests were at various heights from the ground, from four to thirty or forty feet or upwards, mixed with old ones of the preceding year; they were, for the most part, placed against the trunk of the Spruce Fir, some were, however, at a considerable distance from it, upon the upper surface, and towards the smaller end of the thicker branches: they resemble most nearly those of the Ring Thrush; the outside is composed of sticks, and coarse grass and weeds gathered wet, matted together with a small quantity of clay, and lined with a thick bed of fine dry grass. None of them yet contained more than three eggs, although we afterwards found that five was more commonly the number than four, and that even six was very frequent. The Fieldfare is the most abundant bird in Norway, and is generally diffused over that [northern] part which we visited; building, as above noticed, in society, two hundred nests or more being frequently within a very small space." We may be thought, perhaps, unreasonable, in not being satisfied with all this novel information; but still we cannot help wishing that Mr. Hewitson had completed his discovery, by bringing over a few of the eggs, and setting them under Blackbirds or other Thrushes at home, by which means he would have been enabled to describe their nestling plumage, which is still unknown. As it is, he is deserving of many thanks from ornithologists.

A whole plate devoted to one egg of the European Dipper; semi-translucent white, whence, unblown, they appear of a delicate blush colour. We are surprised to observe Mr. Hewitson designate this species Water Crow! "I once surprised a nest of young Water Crows, which, although they could scarcely fly, instantly

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took to the water, down the stream of which they were hurried with such rapidity that I supposed it impossible that any of them could weather it; they did so, however, and landed safely far below."

Another plate, with but one beautiful egg of the Golden Oriole, a species which has not hitherto been known to breed in Britain. This egg is a good deal like that of the Song Thrush, only the markings are on a white ground. There are, also, a few delicate spots of a pinkish hue.

Eggs of the three British species of Saxicola, two of those of the Whin Chat, (S. rubetra). The latter have been erroneously considered, by most authors, as invariably spotless; our observation agrees with that of Mr. Hewitson. All four are beautifully represented.

Figures of those of the Nightingale and Robin-two of each. Of the former, one is of the characteristic dull green, and spotless; the other obscurely dotted with rufous brown. In our collection, one of these spotted specimens is much more thickly besprinkled at the large end, where the specks become confluent, till at the extremity it appears of a uniform brown. Nightingale's eggs vary much in size. The spots are rarely so large as in Mr. Hewitson's figure. The Robin's eggs are not typically represented; many in our cabinet are very dissimilar; not unfrequently they are almost white.

The next plate exhibits the Fen Reedling's, Sedge Reedling's, and Locustelle's eggs, one of each. The first is not a bad average example, though rather dark; in general, the light ground colour is much clearer. This bird much more commonly nidificates in tall shrubs, than is generally supposed, even where reeds are plentiful in the close vicinity. The Sedge Reedling's egg we do not so much approve of,-at least to judge from our own extensive series, wherein there is not one resembling it. Undoubtedly it is a difficult egg to represent correctly; its colours should be rather more blended however, it could not be well mistaken for that of any other British species. The Locustelle's egg, we doubt not, has been executed with very great care, and is scrupulously correct. We long imagined that a specimen was in our possession, and were not a little pleased to find it exactly accord with Mr. Hewitson's figure, minus, however, the one little dash of black, which is unimportant. A few irregular black streaks are very prevalent in the eggs of all these birds, which may be easily washed off by simply wetting them. The same applies to many of the darker markings on the eggs of birds; always unless there is a thin covering of shell over

them try the experiment, for instance, with those of a Lapwing. This curious species, the Locustelle, approaches, in many ways, to the Pipits and other ground birds, insomuch that the earlier naturalists styled it a Lark; its hind claw is considerably elongated, and there is little doubt that its mode of progression is, as in the Pipits, ambulatory, notwithstanding that the contrary has been asserted. To ascertain this, we have long and patiently watched the birds, but hitherto without success. Like the Pipits, too, it would seem to nidificate upon the ground. Its singular note is sometimes uttered on the wing. The species is by no means uncommon on the heaths around London.

In the next plate we have four representations; two eggs of the Garden Fauvet, one of the Blackcapt, and one of the Whitebreasted species. None of these are what we consider to be characteristic: there are now before us a great number of specimens of all three, which exhibit very considerable diversity. Of course it is not meant to be insinuated that Mr. Hewitson's figures are not correctly copied from his specimens, but they certainly are not average examples. Figs. 1 and 3 (the latter meant to represent the Blackcap's) approximate to the ordinary aspect of the Garden Fauvet's egg, only the markings should have a longitudinal tendency. Generally speaking, the Garden Fauvet's egg exhibits confluent spots of pale cinereous, and dirty brown, upon a dull white ground, having rather what may be called a smeary appearance. The brown is very rarely so dark as it is here represented. Fig. 2 is a peculiar variety, dissimilar from any we have ever met with. We have some in which the ground colour is very clear, with the spots distinctly marked, and chiefly at the large end, where they incline to form a zone; in short, very like an average egg of F. garrula. In another the spots are small and reddish brown, without any ashcolour markings. The Blackcap's eggs are commonly of a richer tint, which, however, varies greatly; an average specimen has much more brown in it than Mr. Hewitson's figure. The lighter markings generally blend with the ground tint, and there are mostly a few scattered dark spots. We possess them of every shade, from pale flesh colour to very deep reddish flesh colour, and to dark sienna brown; the ground tint being very seldom clear. We have specimens of the Whitebreasted Fauvet's eggs shewing considerable diversity, but not equal to those of the preceding; the ground colour is always clear, as remarked by Hewitson, and the markings are chiefly confined to the large end, appearing in some as minute dots, in others as ill-defined blotches. The figure is rather that

of a variety; and altogether we should by no means select this plate as a favourable example of the work.

Mr. Hewitson describes the variation to which the above eggs are subject, and very judiciously observes that "there is so very close and admirable an approximation between the nests and eggs of these three birds, that any one, without having seen the birds themselves, would, without hesitation, place them together in the same genus." In like manner, we may add, is the propriety of generically separating the Pied and Grey Flycatchers of authors distinctly indicated by the diversity of their nests and eggs. Shewing how very necessary it is," continues our author, "in the classification of birds, to pay some attention to their nests and eggs, and how very much knowledge, and pleasing and convincing proof and assistance, might be gained by so doing."

The following plate presents two eggs of the Goldencrowned Kinglet, and one of the Common Wren: both are exquisitely represented. Those of the Kinglet may be said to exemplify the extremes of variation; but we should liked to have seen also a third, exhibiting its more ordinary aspect. Judging from the great number we have at different times seen, and the collection at present before us, we should say that the usual appearance of the egg of this species is dull white and spotless, but with a brownish tinge at the large end; or the spots may be said to be only just distinguishable on very close inspection. We have one, a yolkless specimen, about one third the ordinary size, and have heard of others resembling it. Not long ago, we saw an egg of the Fierycrowned Kinglet, which closely resembles that of R. auricapillus, save in being a trifle longer; it was not, however, a British specimen. The Common Wren's is a very beautiful egg, pure white, with often hardly a speck discoverable; generally, however, there are numerous minute dots at the large end. We observed a Wren this season, sitting on seven eggs, which were very darkly spotted; but, as they were on the point of hatching, a specimen was not obtained. They greatly resembled, except in size, and in being more thickly spotted at the large end, Mr. Hewitson's fig. 1 of that of the Great Tit.

We have next four figures of eggs; two of the Great Tit, one of its congener, the Cole Tit, and one of the Bearded Pinnock, still absurdly classed, by many writers, in Parus, the impropriety of which is sufficiently shewn even in the egg, and particularly in its diverse nidification. The figures of the Great Tit's egg are characteristic; we have some much less distinctly marked, and others more so, than either, but, tout ensemble, are very well satisfied with

the representation before us, more especially with No. 2, which we can match exactly. Our Cole Tit's eggs, upon which the parent was captured, are of a longer form than Mr. Hewitson's figure, with the spots less round; but, as we have not an extensive series, have no reason to believe the representation to be inaccurate. That of the Bearded Pinnock, of which we have seen many, is very good.

Eggs of the Blue Tit, Marsh Tit, and Rose Mufflin, occupy the next plate; and the two former are as well represented as is possible with such variable subjects. Our series of those of the Blue Tit graduate from the most minutely dotted examples, more so than in the plate, to those in which the spots are very bold and large, and few in number: the latter variety is not figured by Mr. Hewitson. Those of the Marsh Tit vary similarly, but are seldom very minutely speckled. The Mufflin's eggs are rarely so spotted as in the figure; many are pure white, with just a tinge of brown at the large end. Before they are blown, all the last mentioned eggs have a delicate blush appearance.

Next we have an egg of the Shore Pipit, and two of the Common or Meadow Pipit; the former somewhat darker than our specimens, which have the pale ground colour very distinct. All three are excellent illustrations. We have many varieties of those of the Common Pipit, and can match both Mr. Hewitson's figures exactly. No. 3 is by no means a common variety, and not a little indicates the affinity of these birds for the Wagtails.

The following plate exhibits single specimens of the eggs of the Pied and Grey Wagtails, and of the Golden Willet (Budytes flavissima). We cannot panegyrize the first as a typical example, the Pied Wagtail's eggs being commonly somewhat more spotted, and many very thickly marked, and sparrow-like; still we have some extremely like it. The eggs of this species differ chiefly from many of those of the House Sparow in the spots being smaller. The Grey Wagtail's egg agrees tolerably with the few we have seen, and that of the Golden Willet is very fair. As Mr. Hewitson remarks, the eggs of both the latter species often assume the aspect of each other.

We now open upon figures of two rare ones; one of the Cirl Bunting, which, however, is by no means a scarce species in many scattered isolated localities in the southern counties; the other, of the Common Snowfleck (Plectrophanes nivalis), about which we are incompetent to offer an opinion, further than that we have no doubt it is most carefully represented. It is not unlike some of those of the Green Finch. We have never yet met with a Cirl