84 



The Oologists' Record, December i, 1921. 



In 1918, after the 5th July, the following nests were found in the 

 Coastal Plain not many miles east of Jaffa : — 

 6.7.18 4 Advanced. 9.7.18 2 



8.7.18 3 Several days. 12. 7. 18 3 



8.7.18 2 Fresh. 14. 7. 18 4 



9.7.18 4 Several days. 15. 7. 18 4 



In comparison with the above list, the following sets were 

 examined in the Coastal Plain near Ludd from mid- April to end 

 of May, 1920 : — 



Fresh. 



Fresh. 



Very advanced. 



Several days. 



What I chiefly wish to bring to notice is the fact that more than 

 50 per cent, of the nests in this latter list contained sets of five eggs, 

 whereas in the former, of those found late in the season there is 

 not a single clutch of as many as five eggs. From this I conclude 

 that the normal clutch is five eggs ; but after the middle of June 

 it is quite unusual to find any sets of more than four eggs, while 

 sets of three are then not uncommon. Two broods are probably 

 brought up in the season. 



In the hills in 1918 both fresh eggs and full-fledged young were 

 found in the middle of June. In 1920 few records were made 

 after the middle of June, as I confined my attention to other species 

 whose habitat was the marshes. 



The eggs vary a good deal in shape, size, and in the markings, 

 though they do not differ in their various characteristics from 

 British specimens. 



The largest eggs easily overlap the smallest eggs of Chloris c. 

 chlorotica {vide comparative table in note on Chloris c. chlorotica) 

 in length, though they keep smaller in breadth. 



