Nesting of Birds in Fohkien. 33 



are reared in a season, as we obtained a clutch of eggs, nearly 

 ready to be hatched, in July. The nest is placed in a fork 

 near the end of a horizontal branch of some tall pine or other 

 tree, usually at a good height from the ground. It is a 

 shallow cup, very well finished with thick substantial sides, 

 but very thin at the bottom, so much so that as a rule the 

 eggs practically rest on the branch. The materials used are 

 fine twigs, pine-needles, fine dry grass, roots, and tendrils. 

 These are strongly bound together with cobwebs, to which 

 the bird attaches lichens and moss. The lining is generally 

 of pine-needles, but at times fine dry grass, roots, fibres, and 

 hair are used. 



The average measurements of twenty-one nests are as 

 follows : — Outer diameter 5 inches, inner about 3 ; outer 

 depth about 2, inner \\. 



The eggs vary a good deal, but are generally referable to 

 one of the four following types : — 



(a) Pinkish white, with rather large spots or blotches of 



crimson over underlying spots of lavender-grey. 



(b) Delicate creamy pink, with small, roundish, dark 



crimson and underlying lavender-grey spots. 



(c) More or less pale yellowish pink, with large and 



irregular or small round spots of pale crimson, or 

 pale pinkish red. The underlying markings are as in 

 (a) and (b). 



(d) Pale orange, with a few very pale red blotches and 



underlying blotches of lilac-grey. 



In La Touchers collection are three or four clutches which 

 differ somewhat from those described, the most abnormal 

 being one of a greenish-white ground-colour, with a few spots 

 and specks of washed-out reddish brown over dull greyish- 

 pink specks. 



The markings are generally closer at the larger end, 

 and are seldom, if ever, numerous. The shell is smooth and 

 without gloss, except in much incubated specimens. In 

 shape the eggs are variable, but are most commonly ovate. 



The clutch usually consists of four ; only once have we met 

 with five eggs in a nest. 



SER. VIII. — VOL. V. D 



