80 HEWITSON'S "BRITISH OOLOGY." 



At the same time, the varieties are not sufficiently illustrated in the 

 plate, and we have many that are quite dissimilar from either of 

 those represented. They vary greatly in size, and also in shape, 

 from nearly spherical to an extremely elongated form. Very com- 

 monly, the zone of spots is at the smaller end ; and we have speci- 

 mens from two different nests which could not be distinguished 

 from some of those of the Robin. Not long ago, the writer was 

 much amused at seeing, in a gentleman's cabinet, diverse specimens 

 of the egg of this bird labelled as those of the L. excubitor, collurio, 

 and rufus ! Two of the last-named species, the only specimens ever 

 known to have been found in this country, and kindly lent to us by 

 their possessor, considerably resemble No. I of Mr. Hewitson's 

 plate of those of L. collurio, but are whiter, more free from dots ? 

 excepting at the zone, (which in the one is nearer the middle than 

 in the other), where the spots are very close, and of two colours, 

 greenish-brown and ash colour. There is little doubt but that they 

 are equally subject to variation. Since writing this, we perceive 

 that Mr. Hewitson has subsequently figured the eggs of this spe- 

 cies. 



Eggs of the Song Thrush, Black Thrush, and Missel Thrush ; 

 one of the first, two of the second, and one of the third. That of 

 the first, of course, no one could mistake ; but we think the specks 

 upon it are decidedly too smudgy. The Black Thrush's eggs vary 

 a good deal, both in size and markings, and are of every shade from 

 nearly white to almost as blue as some of those of the Song Thrush. 

 We possess one or two that could hardly be told from some varieties 

 of those of the Missel Thrush : at least one more variety of them 

 might have been added. The Missel Thrush's egg is the least cha- 

 racteristic of any we have hitherto met with, though we certainly 

 have specimens very like it ; it should be considered as a variety, 

 rather than as a typical representation, and at least two more eggs 

 of this species should have been figured. 



Next, we are presented with good examples of those of the 

 Fieldfare Thrush and of the Ring Thrush, two of each. They 

 greatly resemble those of the Black Thrush, and, as Mr. Hewitson 

 observes, " figures 1 and 3 may apply alike to all/' the former being 

 the most usual appearance of the Fieldfare's egg, the latter a vari- 

 ety of that of the Ring Thrush ; they are blueish, minutely dotted 

 with reddish-brown. Figures 2 and 4 are also a good deal alike 

 in general character, the spots being distinct and larger, and little 

 confluent. The author remarks, " I have never known the eggs 

 of the Blackbird assume the markings of Nos. 2 and 4, this being 



