of the Breeding of the Waxwing. 101 



detailed account of Herr Keitel's success appeared some months 

 after iu the ' Naumannia*/ from the pen of its editor, and the 

 specimens of the eggs figured in that magazine were obtained 

 through him. It is unnecessary for me to go into details re- 

 specting the magnificent series of eggs which Mr. Wolley was 

 thus enabled to add to his cabinet. The nests were built mostly 

 in Spruce and Scotch-fir trees {Pinus abies and P. sylvestris) — 

 chiefly, I think, the former. The usual complement of eggs is 

 certainly five ; but six not uncommonly, and seven and four occa- 

 sionally, were found. The second week of June seems to be the 

 general time for the birds to have eggs ; but there are some 

 which must have been laid in the last days of May, and others 

 (perhaps second broods) a month laterf. Of the different varieties 

 into which the egg runs, the accompanying illustration (PI. IV.), 

 iu which Mr. Hev>'itsou^s able pencil has represented the half-dozen 

 examples I before mentioned as selected by Mr. Wolley, will give 

 a far better idea than anything I can say. I may, however, state 

 that those depicted in figures 1 and 4 are considerably above the 

 average size, and are characterized by a bolder style of blotching 

 than usual. Fig. 2 is perhaps the most typical in appearance, 

 and, except in size, almost exactly resembles an ordinary Cedar- 

 bird's. Fig. 3 displays a somewhat rare variety, in which linear 

 markings, such as are seen in the eggs of many of the Emberizince 

 and Icterirue, more or less prevail. Fig. 5 represents a not unusual 

 form with a dull-olive ground-colour, resembling in this respect 

 curiously enough the egg of an Australian bird of the same 

 family, PachycephalapectoralisX, of which there is a specimen now 

 in Mr. 0. Salvin's collection. The example drawn in fig. 6 stands, 

 to the best of my belief, for the variety to which Mr. Wolley in 

 his paper before mentioned applied the term " salmon -colour," 

 which appellation has been demurred to by other naturalists. 

 The matter I think is explained by the fact, which I know from 

 my own intimacy with him, that Mr. Wolle/s sight did not fully 



* « Naumannia,' 1858, p. 498. pi. 1. figs. 5-8. 



t The American species would seem sometimes to breed much later in 

 the season. Dr. Brewer told me at Boston, August 31st, 1857, that on the 

 preceding day he had seen a Cedar-bird's nest, with eggs still uuhatched. 



I Gould, Birds of Australia, ii. pi. 67. 



