170 Rev. H. B, Tristram on the Eggs of the Nutcracker, 6^c. 



towards the middle of the egg. I certainly never saw any variety 

 of the eggs of the Common Magpie which would pass for them; and 

 when I take into consideration that the Nutcracker is a common 

 bird in the pine-forests of Sixt, for I have never spent a day 

 there without seeing it several times — that it also does breed there, 

 for I have seen the young birds scarcely able to fly among the 

 trees — that Balmat was perfectly familiar with the Nutcracker, 

 and had no temptation to deceive, since he was evidently igno- 

 rant of the rarity of the egg, as may be gathered from the price 

 he asked — that neither the Magpie nor the Jay is found, so far 

 as I am aware, in those forests — and that my specimens exactly 

 coincide with authentic German eggs, — I do not think that I am 

 justly amenable to the criticism of your reviewer if I claim 

 authenticity for these specimens. The evidence does certainly 

 appear to me the next best to that of actual capture by oneself. 

 Human testimony is fallible; but if admissible at all, as Mr. 

 Wolley admitted it in the case of the Smew, I think it may pass 

 here. 



As to Loxia piti/opsittacus, Mr. Wainwright has sent home 

 from the southern forests of Sweden the nests and eggs of 

 several pairs of Parrot Crossbills, with the head of the hen-bird 

 attached to each. One of these nests, through Mr. Hancock's 

 kindness, is now in my possession. The nest does not differ, 

 except in size, from that of the Common Crossbill ; but the eggs, 

 while similarly marked, are invariably larger. Mr. Hancock in 

 1858 received a nest which, from the size of the eggs, he sus- 

 pected must belong to this bird, and consequently sent direc- 

 tions to have the birds snared in the nests, and forwarded to 

 him, carefully attached. Both species appear to breed at the 

 same early period, and the four nests of the Parrot Crossbill 

 thus identified arrived along with a greater number of those of 

 the common bird. 



Mr. Wainwright has also corroborated Herr Badeker's account 

 of the Green Sandpiper's sometimes breeding in old Fieldfares' 

 nests in trees, as he has forwarded eggs, now in my possession, 

 taken by him in trees, which exactly correspond with those taken 

 by myself near Bodoe in 1852 in hillocks of grass, and figured 

 by Mr. Hewitson in his last edition. Mr. AVainwright does not 



