EGGS OF BEITISH BIRDS. 207 



The eggs vary in number from five to eight, and are white or 

 pale creamy-white in ground-colour, blotched, spotted and speck- 

 led with pale brownish-red. In some specimens the spots are 

 small and finely powdered over the whole shell ; in others the 

 markings are confluent, usually at the large end of the egg, 

 sometimes forming a zone, and sometimes with a few streaks of 

 rich brown. In shape the eggs vary not a little, sometimes being 

 almost round. They vary in length from 0'73 to 0'5(5 inch, and 

 in breadth from 0"5 to 0'45 inch. 



The eggs of all the British Willow Warblers possess certain 

 characteristics which readily distinguish them from each other. 

 Those of the Common Willow Warbler are readily identified by 

 their pale reddish-brown markings ; those of the Chiffchaff by 

 their less numerous and very dark red spots ; and those of the 

 Wood Wren are darkest of all, being thickly marked with purplish 

 coffee-brown and underlying spots of pale violet-grey. From the 

 eggs of many of the Tits it is a more difficult matter to distin- 

 guish the eggs of the two former Willow- Warblers ; but the 

 situation and shape of the nest are sufficient for their identi- 

 fication. 



THE CHIFFCHAFF. 



{Phijlloscop us rufus . ) * 

 Plate 53, Figs. 7, 8. 



The Chiffchaff, though it has a much more restricted range 

 than the Willow Wren, and is seldom so abundant, is neverthe- 

 less a common bird in most parts of England and Wales. In 

 Scotland and Ireland it is said to be more local. On the Con- 

 tinent the Chiffchaff' does not range quite up to the Arctic circle. 



The nest of the Chiffchaff does not differ from that of the 

 Willow Wren. It is semi-domed, composed of dried grass, rather 

 loosely made outside, but inside it is very neat and lined with 

 roots, horse-hair, and finally with a profusion of feathers. Unlike 

 that of the Willow Wren, it is often placed a foot or two from 

 the ground. 



The eggs are five or even seven in number, and vary from pure 

 white to pale creamy-white in ground-colour. There are two 



* P. minor — Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 211. 



