EGGS OF SOMERSETSHIRE BIRDS. 163 
seems to choose such buds as contain embryo blossoms, 
rejecting those that produce leaves ; unlike the blue 
titmouse which only devours such buds as contain 
insects, and which on that account would never arrive 
at maturity. The eggs are of a pale blue, spotted 
and streaked with purple. 
STURNIDAE. STURNUS. 
54.—Sturnus vulgaris. —Starling. 
The eggs of a uniform pale blue, 1 inch 2 lines by 10 lines. 
CORVIDAE. CORYVUS,. 
55.— Corvus corax.— Raven. 
A pair of these birds for many seasons made their nest in 
Willet tower, in this neighbourhood ; it is however 
now deserted. A pair also have bred on Brean 
Down, near Weston-super-Mare. I obtained an egg 
from thence last season, or rather should have obtained 
it, for on being drawn up from the nest, which was 
built midway on the side of a cliff, the egg was 
unfortunately crushed in the pocket of the coat of 
the finder, and as it was addled, the perfume was not 
the most agreeable imaginable. The eggs are 2 
inches by 1 inch 4 lines, of a pale green, spotted and 
speckled with a dark greenish brown. 
56.—C. corone.— Carrion crow. 
Eggs 1 inch 8 lines by 1 inch 2 lines, of a pale bluish 
green, spotted and speckled with ash green and va- 
rious shades of brown. 
57.—C. frugilegus.—.Rook. 
These birds are among our earliest breeders, commencing 
their task in March, repairing the nest of the previous 
year, and depositing four or five eggs, of a pale green, 
blotched with dark greenish brown, 1 inch 8 lines by 
1 inch 2 lines. 
3w 
