62 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



bird is a close sitter, but not demonstrative, and when 

 flushed conceals itself amongst the surrounding vege- 

 tation, the male often uttering his warning tec or rar. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Barred Warbler are from four to six in 

 number, five being the average clutch. They vary from 

 grayish-white to buffish-white in ground colour, mottled 

 and freckled with gray, and more rarely spotted with 

 brown. The eggs of this bird are very remarkable, 

 inasmuch that most of the markings are underlying 

 ones, or covered with a thin layer of ground colour, 

 the surface spots being few and indistinct. A rare type, 

 however, occurs in which these conditions are reversed, 

 and the surface spots are larger, clearly defined, and 

 greatly outnumber the underlying markings. Herr 

 E. Hartert records a very handsome clutch of the latter 

 type, in which the eggs are "spotted with deep chestnut- 

 brown." Average measurement, '85 inch in length by 

 •62 inch in breadth. Whether both sexes incubate, or 

 only one, appears not to be known, as is also the 

 duration of the period. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Barred 

 Warbler are very distinct, and cannot readily be con- 

 fused with those of any other species. The predominating 

 underlying markings, combined with the size of the ^^'g, 

 are safe distinguishing characters. 



