72 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF 



or wrongly to belong to the nest which some boys had 

 taken from a tree just previously, there must always 

 remain an element of doubt until birds are absolutely 

 shot at or seen on the nest. This nest was made in the 

 upper branches of a pine tree. From Mr. Swinhoe's 

 collection it passed into that of Mr. Seebohm, where I 

 had the opportunity of examining it, together with the 

 eggs. It is about the size of that of the Blackbird, and 

 made on a very similar plan. Externally it is composed 

 of fine and coarse grass, dead rush leaves, moss, a few 

 twigs, and an occasional withered leaf ; in this shell a 

 first lining of wet mud had been placed, amongst which 

 are sticking a few bits of weed, which were doubtless 

 growing in the mud when it was taken to the nest ; the 

 final lining consists of coarse fibrous roots and a {(t\\ 

 bits of sedge. The birds are described as being very 

 anxious when their nest was removed, and were 

 recognized by Mr. Swinhoe as the present species. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement: 

 The nest obtained by Mr. Swinhoe contained three eggs, 

 but probably this number does not represent a full 

 clutch. They are greenish-white in ground colour, 

 minutely and evenly spotted with reddish-brown over 

 most of the surface. Average measurement, \'2 inch in 

 length by "9 inch in breadth. The duration of the incu- 

 bation period is unknown. 



Diagnostic characters : As the eggs of this 

 species may possibly be yet unknown to science, it is 

 not wise to form any diagnosis from the above descrip- 

 tion, even if such were possible. There is always the 

 possibility that this nest and eggs belonged to Mernla 

 mandarina, a species to which Mr. Swinhoe himself at 

 first thought them to belong, and to which admittedly 

 they bear a very strong resemblance. 



