Some Remarkable Nests and Eggs. yy 



with their exceptions, and I now propose to mention 

 a few remarkal)le exceptions to the rules prevail- 

 ing in the ditterent classes of nests of which I have 

 spoken. For instance, hoth the Wood Pigeon and 

 the Turtle Dove hudd open-topped nests and yet 

 lay white eggs, whicli may sometimes be plainly 

 seen through the twigs composing the Himsy ])lal- 

 f«»i-iii upon which tliey lie by an observer standing 

 at the foot of the tree or Inisli in which the nest 

 is situated. And yet, in spile of this great (h-aw- 

 back. tlic liirds liave increased in numbers in Uriiain 

 during recent years, luU. it must be pointed out, 

 mainly owing to the strict lavservation of gauie in the 

 districts wliere they ])reed. which means the practical 

 extermiualioii of their ualiiral eiieiiiiis. Tb<' l^ilinnr 

 Petrel and Solan (loose are exceptions, too, as they 

 each lay a single white Q'^^f, bnt both breed on tlie 

 most dizzying ocean clitl's to say nothing of th(^ 

 facts that the fornu'r defends itself by s(|nirting 

 (piantities of evil-smelling aniber-colonrcd oil at its 

 enemies, and the latter by vigorous peeks from a 

 very I'ormidable bill. Herons and L'ormorants are 

 also both exceptions, because they lay white or pale- 

 blue eggs; but here again tlie parent birds are 

 capable of taking care of their property. 



Tbe Wliinchat and the Stonechat lay pale, 

 greenishd)lue eggs, sparingly speckled in the case 

 of the former species with reddish-brown, yet both 

 nest on or near the ground. I ought to add, how- 

 ever, that the nests are so sjJendidly hidden that 



