Birds of North-west Fohkien. 203 



these were deserted as soon as tliey were finished. The 

 inner part of the nests found about Kuatan is made of 

 coir-fibre and fine grass-stems, with sometimes pigs^ bristles 

 added. The outer materials are moss and dried fern-fronds. 

 Dead leaves are also used to make the base of the inner cup. 

 The depth of the egg-cavity varies from \\ to 2 inches, and 

 the inner diameter is 2^ inches. The outer measurements 

 are very variable, and depend on the size of the niche or 

 cavity to be filled up. 



The full clutch is generally four, but sometimes five eggs. 

 There is much variety in the size and colouring of the spots 

 and their disposition ; but the eggs of one clutch are always 

 of the same type. Some clutches are so thickly speckled with 

 pale reddish brown that the pale green ground-colour is almost 

 concealed ; while others are sparsely spotted with burnt-sienna 

 and violet, over violet underlying spots. The eggs of one 

 of my clutches of the former type have a dark cap of con- 

 fluent spots, and those of one of the lightly-spotted kind have 

 a thick dark ring round the large end. In all the eggs that 

 I have, however, the large end is more thickly spotted than 

 the rest of the egg. 



The shape of the eggs is purely ovate in nearly every clutch ; 

 but those of one of my clutches have a much rounded apex. 

 Forty eggs average 0*78 X 0*58 inch; they range from 

 075 to 0'81 inch in length, and from 0'56 to 0'59 inch 

 in breadth. 



36. Erithacus sibilans (Swinhoe). 



This bird, which we have not yet found at Foochow, 

 passes N.W. Fohkien on migration. We have four examples 

 from Kuatun, dated April and October. 



37. Phylloscopus borealis (Blasius). 



We have Kuatun examples dated May and September. 



38. Phylloscopus tenellipes Swinhne. 



One male was shot near Kuatun during the last trip on 

 the 20th April. Total length 5'10 inches : upper mandible 

 and apical half of lower mandible blackish ; sides of upper 

 mandible and base of lower mandible pink ; legs pale pink. 



p2 



