196 Major R. F. Meiklejohn on the [Ibis, 



oologist would be prepared to assign tliem definitely to the 

 same bird. 



Dr. E-ey publishes tables iu support of his statement, 

 giving details of the eggs assigned to each female, and it is 

 interesting to analyse one or two of these : — 



(i.) Example No. 26. — Female No. 54. — Type of e^^ 

 " Garden -Warbler — Lesser Whitethroat ^' (?.. e. a 

 mixed type between the two), of which eight eggs, 

 all found in nests of the Red-backed Shrike iu 

 1891 and 1892, vary as under iu measurement and 

 ■weight : — 



•82" X •Q?j\ weight 171 grammes (1891). 

 •8-1" X -63" „ 199 „ (1891). 

 •88"x'65" „ 227 „ (1892). 



It is noticeable that all the eggs taken in 1892 were 

 larger and heavier, as might naturally occur with age and 

 distension of the oviduct. 



(ii.) Example No. 27. — Female No. 55. — Type same as 

 above. Eg(js very similar, but larger, and the mark- 

 ings less profuse and finer (the italics are mine — 

 R. F. M.). 



Three eggs taken in 1891 vary as under: — 



•86" X -63", weight 188 grammes. 

 •90"x-63" „ 188 



It will be observed that the first egg is not larger than 

 the last one iu the first example, and one cannot help 

 wondering how these eggs could have been definitely 

 assigned to two different females iu two different years. 



Again, we have the following : — 



(iii.) Example No. 58.— Female No. 6.— Type 'MVhite- 

 throat." Colour rather dark greyish-green, boldly 

 clouded with grey and with many small, fine, black 

 markings. 



