58 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



that the birds were In no apparent hurry to breed, and 

 the males were possibly awaiting the arrival of their 

 partners. About a fortnight after its arrival nest- 

 building commenced. The favourite haunts were the 

 pine forests on the banks of the Koo-ray-i-ka and the 

 Yenesay. The song is apparently little more than that 

 of the Wood Wren, and uttered with the same shivering 

 of the wings. The nest found by Mr. Seebohm, and 

 which together with the eggs I have had the pleasure of 

 examining, was made amongst the bilberry wires, moss, 

 and grass at the foot of a birch tree. It is semi-domed, 

 like that of the Willow Wren, but more open than that 

 of the Chiffchaff, and made externally of dry grass and 

 bits of moss, and lined with reindeer-hair. The actions 

 of the bird at the nest are precisely the same as those 

 of the British species. It is very restless, hopping about 

 in the vicinity of its home, and tiring out all but the 

 most persevering patience, before betraying its secret. 



Range of egg colouration and measurexMent: 

 The eggs of the Yellow-browed Willow Wren, so far 

 as is known, are six in number. They are pure white 

 in ground colour, spotted and speckled with reddish- 

 brown, and with a few underlying markings of paler 

 brown. The spots, which are numerous, are mostly on 

 the larger end of the ^g^, some of them confluent and 

 forming an irregular zone. Average measurement, '6 

 inch in length by -45 inch in breadth. The period of 

 incubation, of course, remains unknown, and whether 

 one or both parents perform the task was unfortunately 

 not remarked. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of this species 

 will always require the most careful identification. In- 

 deed but few ornithologists, in my opinion, are competent 

 to take them at all, and I know of no character which 

 will distinguish them from those of several allied species. 



