64 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



varies a good deal according to locality, but is always 

 composed of some soft substance, and almost invariably 

 includes a piece of dry serpent's skin — a charm to pro« 

 tect the eggs from snakes, according to popular legend. 

 The birds make little or no attempt to conceal their 

 nest, which from its very conspicuousness often escapes 

 discovery. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Rufous Warbler are from three to five 

 in number, the latter being the usual clutch. They 

 vary from pale gray to very pale blue in ground colour, 

 spotted with pale and dark brown, and with underlying 

 markings of lilac-gray. Two distinct types occur. Tlie 

 first has the markings large and splashed, and sparingly 

 streaked; the second has them finely sprinkled over the 

 entire surface, but most numerous at the larger end of 

 the &^g. As a rule the first type is correlated with the 

 gray and the second with the pale blue ground colour, 

 and in the first the underlying markings are the most 

 apparent. Average measurement, 'Zj inch in length by 

 •63 inch in breadth. Incubation is performed chiefly by 

 the female, but the duration of the period is unknown. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Rufous 

 Warbler are fairly distinct, their size and colouration 

 preventing confusion with those of allied species. From 

 the eggs of the Tawny Pipit they are not so readily 

 distinguished, but always appear to be less bulky. 

 Careful identification is required, although the nesting 

 habits of the two birds arc different. 



