VOL. VII.] ERYTHRISM IN EGGS. ^ 259 



default of confirmation from otlier sources, should perhaps 

 be accepted with caution.] 



Redstart [Phoenicurus ph. phoeyiicurus). — Clutches in whicli 

 some or all of the eggs are marked with fine light red spots 

 are not very uncommon, and have occurred in many parts 

 of Great Britain as well as on the Continent. Mr. Bunyard 

 has a particularly fine set in which the red spots form a 

 perfect zone round each egg. 



Black Redstart {Ph. o. gihraltariensis). — The collection 

 of the late L. Field contamed two clutches, one distinctly 

 and the other faintly spotted. The former after\\-ards 

 passed into the Crowley Collection, (c/. also Kleinschmidt, 

 J. /. 0., 1903, pp. 426-28.) 



Hedge-Sp ARROW {Prunella m. occidentalis). — ^A clutch 

 thickly freckled with light reddish-brown, occurred in the 

 garden of Ashley Rectory, near Market Harborough, about 

 eight years ago (C. Borrer). 



Red-rumped Swallow {Chelidon d. rufula). — ^A clutch 

 of four eggs, now in F. C. R. Jourdain's collection, taken 

 by Mr. F. R. S. Baxendale in Cyprus, shows fine red-brown 

 spots, and Mr. E. G. B. Meade- Waldo states that this type 

 also occurs in Morocco. 



House-Martin {Hirundo u. urhica). — Spotted eggs are 

 said to have occurred in this species. Mr. F. Norgate has 

 a clutch with fine reddish-brown spots, but in other cases 

 the supposed s^^ots are due to insects. See however Field, 

 July 20th, 1907. Mr. W. H. Heathcote records a set with 

 pale red spots at Preston {Ornithologist, p. 139). Spotted 

 eggs have also been recorded from the Continent, c/. 

 W. Schuster {Zeits. f. Ool, XII., p. 173, and J. f. 0., 

 1903, p. 29 (note) ), etc. 



Alpine Swift {Apus m. melba). — Girtanner has on two 

 occasions taken clutches of this species with one spotted 

 egg in each, which are now in the collection of Herr G. 

 Krause (c/. Zeitschr. fur Oologie, XII., 1903, p. 173, and 

 XIII., p. 11). 



[Eagle-Owl {Bubo h. bubo). — The marked egg described 

 and figured by Key {Eier d. Vdgel Mitteleuropas, p. 70, 

 pi. 122, fig. 3) is now believed by Le Eoi not to belong to 

 this species.* 



[Marsh-Harrier {Circus ceruginosus). — The eggs of this 

 bird rarely show the slightest trace of any markings beyond 

 a few nest-stains.] 



* See also Hume and Gates, Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds, III., 

 p. 103 {Bubo coromandus). 



