HEWITSON'S "BRITISH OOLOGY.*' 81 



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 sup- 

 plied 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 sup- 

 posed 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 attract- 

 ed 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 spe- 

 cies of this genus with which we are acquainted) breeding in soci- 

 ety. 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 dis- 

 tance 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 abun- 

 dant 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 

 vol. v. — NO. XVII. l 



