KRixnACUs. 14*r 



Genus ERITHACUS, Oavier. 

 Erithacus vahecula, (Linn.). 



(Plate VIII. figs. 6 & 8.) 



Sylvia rubecula, Thien. Fortpflanz. gcs. Viig. tab. xxii. fig. 6, a-c (1845- 



54). 

 Erythacus rubecula, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 27. fig. 5 (1855 -G3) ; 



Dresser, Birds Eur. ii. p. Sl^D (1873). 

 Erythaca rubecula, Hcwitson, Eggs of Brit. Birds, i. p. 98, pi. xxviii. 



(1856). 

 Erithacus rubecula, Seehohm, Cat. Birds B. M. v. p. 299 (1881) ; id. 



Brit. Birds, i. p. 202, pi. 9 (1883) ; id. E,,gs of Brit. Birds, p. 183, 



pi. 51. figs. 2 & 3 (1896) ; Sharpe, Hand-L iv. p. 154 (1903). 



Tho Museum Collection contains a fine series of the eggs of the 

 Robin, which vary considerably in colour, and in shape, from the 

 broad oval to the spheroidal, and are generally highly glossy. The 

 ground is usualh' white or cream-coloured, sometimes tinged with 

 pale pink ; the markiugs are of various shades of brown or reddish 

 brown, mingled with underlying lavender, and while in some eggs 

 they arc densely set over the whole shell in the shape of clouds, 

 blotches, and spots, in others they are sparingly distributed in the 

 form of small blotches and specks. In many specimens tho mark- 

 ings are chiefly collected together at the broad end in the form of a 

 cap or zone, often very handsome. 



A set of eggs from Churt, Surrey, is pure white without any 

 markings ; others are very faintly or sparingly coloured, without the 

 prevailing rufous-brown tint of the typical specimens. Two eggs 

 from Bristol are very strikingly zoned with dark purple-grey, almost 

 black, blotches, dominating the red-brown spots. In size the eggs 

 vary from -7 to '9 in length, and from -56 to -65 in breadth. 



3. Enoland. Old Collection. 



3. Cambridgeshire. F. Bond, Esq. [P.]. 

 5. Cambridgeshire. F. Bond, Esq. [P.]. 



5. Coton, Cambridgeshire, 11th May. Salviu-Godmau Coll. 



6. Norfolk, 23rd April [F. Norgate). Seehohm Coll. 

 6. Norfolk, 20th May {F. N.). Seebohra CoU. 



4. Taplow, Berkshire. Gould Coll. 



2. Bristol. W. G. C, Norman, Esq. fP.]. 



4. Great Whitley, June. W. E. de Wiuton, Esq. [P.]. 



4. Bentlev, Hants, 22ud April {Har- Seehohm Coll. 



gittColl.). 



5. Bentley, 2nd Jlay (Hargitt Coll.). Seehohm Coll. 

 5. New Forest [H. Sauiiders). Seebohra Coll. 



4. Finchley, Middlesex (O. Calvin). Salvin-Godman Coll. 



4. Finchley (O. *.). Salvin-Godman CoU. 

 2. Chiswick, 4th April {Hargitt Seebohm Coll. 



Coll.). 



5. Cliurt, Surrey, May. Crowley Bequest. 

 5. Churt, May. Crowley Bequest. 



4. Churt, June. Crowlev Bequest. 



5. ^■allu'nswaa^d, Holland, 20t.li May Seebohm Coll. 



(C. B. Wharton ^- II. Hcehohm). 



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