184 EGGS OF BEITISH BIKDS. 



and improvement. Formerly it was a rare bird on the wild 

 and desolate Hebrides ; but now it is comparatively common, 

 as improvement and the planting of trees and shrubs have 

 increased. It breeds as far north as the Orkneys, but has not 

 yet been known to do so in the Shetlands, and only rarely occurs 

 on the Faroes in the autumn. The Robin breeds throughout 

 Europe as far north as the Arctic circle, rarely beyond ; but 

 becomes of far less frequent occurrence in Russia, and is not 

 known to nest east of the Ural Mountains. 



The Robin's nest is very bulky and somewhat peculiar in its 

 construction. In the first place, should the nest be on the 

 ground, a small cavity is made as a foundation for future 

 operations. Then, with withered leaves, dry grass and moss, a 

 somewhat rude nest is made, but with a neat deep cup lined with 

 hair, and sometimes a little wool and rootlets, the latter material 

 being the most extensively used. 



The eggs of the Robin are from five to eight in number, but 

 probably six may be taken as an average clutch. In ground- 

 colour they are pure and shining white ; the markings, which in 

 some cases are very rich, are brown of various shades, or red, and 

 sometimes with dashes and freckles of grey. In colour they differ 

 considerably. Some are pure white without a trace of markings, 

 others have a zone of colour round the larger end ; many are so 

 clouded with spots as to hide the ground-colour, while not a few 

 are richly and boldly blotched with reddish-brown, streaked with 

 dark brown approaching black. The eggs possess a considerable 

 amount of gloss, which fades to a very great extent after being 

 kept for any length of time. To be seen in all their delicate 

 beauty they must be examined soon after they are laid and before 

 the contents have been removed. They vary in length from 0*9 

 to 0"7 inch, and in breadth from 065 to 0"56 inch. 



THE ARCTIC BLUE-THROATED ROBIN. 

 (Erithacus suecicd.)* 



Plate 51, Figs. 6, 7. 

 The present species is a frequent visitor to England, especially 

 in the autumn. The Arctic Blue-throat breeds within the Arctic 



* Cyanccula suecica — Saunders, Manual, p. :>3 ; Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 230. 



