PRATINCOLA. 161 



In two clutches from Japan the ground-colour is of a bright 

 but pale greenish-blue, and one of them is so faintly zoned with 

 the palest brownish-red, that the eggs appear plain, until closely 

 examined. 



Pratincola torquata (Linn.). 



Pratincola torquata, Sharpe, ed. LayaroVs Birds S. Africa, p. 236 (1875- 

 84) ; id. Cat. Birds B. M. iv. p. 190 (1879) ; Nehrk. Kat. Eiersnmml. 

 p. 25 (1899) ; Stark Sf Sclater, Fauna S. Africa, Birds, ii. p. 190 

 (1901); Sharpe, Hand-l. iv. p. 172 (1903). 



The eggs of the South-African Stonechat are not separable from 

 those of P. rubicola. They are of a pale dull greenish-blue colour, 

 speckled and clouded with pale chestnut, the markings being densest 

 at the large end and forming an irregular zone or indistinct cap. 

 Specimens measure from - 7 to "8 in length, and from "53 to -61 in 

 breadth. 



4. Berg River, S. Africa, Sept. E. L. Layard, Esq. [P.]. 



11. Transvaal, Oct. ( T. Ay res : Tristram Crowley Bequest. 

 Coll.). 



Pratincola caprata (Linn.). 



Pratincola caprata, Sharpe, Cat. Birds B. M. iv. p. 195, part. (1879) ; 

 Oates, Fauna Brit, hid., Birds, ii. p. 59 (1890) ; id. ed. Hume, Nests 

 8f Eggs Ind. Birds, ii. p. 41 (1890) ; Dresser, Birds Eur. ix. (Suppl.) 

 p. 33 (1895) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. iv. p. 173 (1903). 



The eggs of the Common Indian Pied Bush-Chat are mosti}' of a 

 broad oval form, more or less pointed, and fairly glossy. The 

 vol. iv. n 



