21 



Breeding Range: South and mid-Spain, but absent from the eastern 

 provinces; Portugal south of Lisbon. 



A very local species, breeding in colonies, many nests being found 

 at a short distance from one another. In Spain it is plentiful in wooded 

 districts in New Castile, such as the Casa del Campo near Madrid, Aran- 

 juez, Talavera, etc., also in Estremadura and in parts of Andalucia (Coria 

 del Rio, the Goto del Rey and locally between Sevilla and Cordova). In 

 Portugal Dr. Rey found it plentiful near Barreiro in Estremadura and Tait 

 describes it as abundant in Algarve and also met with it in spring in Alemtejo. 



Colonies frequently consist of 5 or 6 to 20 pairs, and the nests are Nest. 

 built at varying heights, sometimes only 5 ft. from the ground, but more 

 often about 15 ft. up, and occasionally as high as 30 ft. In construction 

 they have been compared to those of the Jay and Great Grey Shrike. The 

 foundation is made of smaU twigs, lichens and green moss, compacted with 

 mud, upon which a superstructure of stalks, roots, moss and flowering 

 plants is built, and the flattened cup is lined with goats' hair and sheep's wool. 



Usually 5 — 6 in number, but 7 are occasionally found, and clutches Eggs. 

 of 8 and even 9 are said to have occurred in Spain. The ground colour 

 is usually pale brownish yellow, sometimes shading into a bluish, greenish 

 or warm reddish tone. They are sparsely marked with brownish spots 

 with underlying flecks of violet grey. 



Rey found fresh eggs in Portugal throughout the month of May; in Breeding 

 Andalucia Noble took a full clutch on April 24, but general laying did season, 

 not begin till May 4. 



400 eggs measured by Rey give the following results: average Measure- 

 26.7 X 19.5 mm.. Max. 30.2 X 22 mm., Min. 24 X 19.7 and 24.5 X 18 mm. ""^nts. 

 Average weight 407 mg., varying from 260 to 500 mg. 



8. Nutcracker, Nucifraga caryocatactes (L.). 



Plate 5, fig. 1—2 (Sarajevo, 3. IV. 94), 3 {Rafus Planina, 6. IV. 98), 

 4—5 (Bosnia, 3. IV. 96), 6 (Pale, Bosnia, 28. III. 98). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl., Tab. XLI, fig. 4, a — c (unrecognizable). 

 Baedeker, Tab. 50, fig. 14; Tab. 76, tig. 4. Journ. f. Ornith. 1856, Tab. I, 

 fig. 1. Taczanowski, Tab. XXXII, fig. 1. Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 1867, 

 pi. XV (Aves), fig. 2. Seebohm, Br. Birds, pi. 16; id. Col. Fig. pi. 55. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Sojha tureckd, Ofesnik. Denmark: 

 Noddekrige, Pletfugl. Finland: Pdhkinahakkinen. France: Casse-noix, 

 Alognier. Germany: Tannenhdher, Nusshdher. Holland: Notenkrakei: 

 Hungary: Magtar'6. Italy: Nocciolaja, Oai d' montagna, Eompa-nbs. Norway: 

 Noddekraake, Blaakraake. Poland: Orzechbivka stryszek. Russia: Kedrofka. 

 Sweden: Notrdka, Notgubbe. Transylvania: Havasi Mdtyds. 



