MERULA. 93 



& ii (1856) ; Salvin, Ibis, 1859, p. 311 ; Godman, Ibis, 1866, p. 95; 

 Saunders, Ibis, 1871, p. 209 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. ii. p. 91 

 (1872). 

 Merula merula, Seebohm, Cat. Birds B. M. v. p. 235 (1881) ; id. Brit. 

 Birds, i. p. 235, pi. 8 (1883) ; id. Eggs of Brit. Birds, p. 181, pi. 50. 

 figs. 11 & 12 (1896); Shai-pe in Seebohn's Mon. Turdidce, ii. p. 1 

 (1899) ; Nehrk. Eat. Eiersamml. p. 37 (1899) ; Sharpe, Hand-l iv. 

 p. 117 (1903). 



Eggs of the Blackbird are mostly of an oval form ; a few are 

 pyriform, and others are spheroidal. They differ considerably in 

 size and colour. As a rule they exhibit a considerable amount of 

 gloss. 



The most common type has the ground-colour bluish green, marked 

 in various ways with pale chestnut or reddish brown and various 

 tints of lilac. In typical specimens the markings are small and 

 very dense and evenly distributed over the whole surface ; in otbers 

 the markings are minute and at the same time rather sparingly 

 scattered over the egg. Others again are marked with spots and 

 streaks of considerable size, and a few with clouds and smears. At 

 the broad end of the egg there are often some black specks and lines. 

 In addition to the above ordinary forms many striking varieties of 

 Blackbird's eggs are met with, and a fair proportion of these is 

 contained in the Museum Collection. Some are unspotted pale 

 blue ; some are blue, with a few faint brownish spots ; some are 

 plain blue, with a massive cap of rich reddish brown at the broad 

 end, extremely handsome ; and others are creamy white, evenly 

 spotted and streaked all over with pale chestnut. It may, perhaps, 

 be worthy of mention that among the large number of clutches in 

 the Collection, there are only two containing the odd light bluish- 

 coloured variety which occurs so much more frequently among the 

 clutches of the Fieldfare. 



Specimens measure from 1 to 1-30 in length, and from *75 to -93 

 in breadth. 



4. Co. Waterford, Ireland, 20th April. Miss F. Keane [P.], 



4. Dochfour, Inverness (Harqitt Seebohm Coll. 

 Coll.). 



3. Lochend, Inverness (Hargitt Seebohm Coll. 



Coll.). 



4. England. Old Collection. 



2. Kendal, Westmoreland, April. A. Garnett, Esq. [P.]. 

 4. Wilstrop, Yorkshire, 23rd May Seebohm Coll. 



(J. Harrison : Hargitt Coll.). 



3. Wilstrop, 28th May (J. II. : Bar- Seebohm Coll. 



gift Coll.). 



3. Sheffield (H. Seebohm). Seebohm Coll. 



2. Sheffield (H. S.). Seebohm Coll. 



3. Sheffield (H. S.). Seebohm Coll. 



4. Clumber, Notts, 9th May (II. S.). Seebohm Coll. 



3. Cambridgeshire. F. Bond, Esq. [P.]. 



4. Cambridgeshire. F. Bond, Esq. [P.]. 



5. Cambridgeshire. V. Bond, Esq. [P.]. 

 5. Cambridgeshire. F. Bond, Esq. [P.J. 



