23 



This is, as far as we know, almost invariably built in coniferous woods, Nest. 

 usually at a considerable elevation but not necessarily so, as is shown by the 

 fact that it has been found in East Prussia, Bornholm and parts of Sweden 

 where there are no hills of any magnitude. It is commonly placed close 

 to the trunk of a pine, fir, or larch tree at a height of about 15 to 18 ft. 

 but sometimes as much as 30 ft. and is about 1 ft. in diameter externally, 

 5^/2 in. in depth, with a depression of about 4 in. in diameter and 1^/^ 

 to 2^/2 in. in depth. The foundation is formed of sticks and twigs from 

 various trees (larch, birch, spruce, bird-cherry etc.) recently plucked, mixed 

 with moss, leaves and lichens, and occasionally earth or rotten wood is 

 found underneath the lining, which consists of a thick layer of dry grass 

 stalks, and hair-like lichens ( Usnea barbata) with one or two feathers from 

 the sitting bird. 



These are usually 3 or 4 in number, and in many districts 3 is the Eggs. 

 normal clutch; but instances are on record of 2 eggs having been found 

 much incubated, and several sets of 5 are said to have been taken in the 

 Jura. In colour they are a very pale bluish green, sometimes almost 

 white, finely but generally speckled with olive brown and grey spots. In 

 some eggs the markings are chiefly confined to the blunt end, but do 

 not show any tendency to form a zone or cap, while occasionally they are 

 almost absent. The only eggs with which they can be confused are pale, 

 finely spotted Jackdaw's eggs, but in these the colour of the spots is 

 always darker than in those of the Nutcracker, and the ground colour is 

 more bluish in tint. The shell is fine grained with but little gloss. 



This is remarkably early, and in conjunction with the retiring habits Breeding 

 of the bird at the nesting season, accounts in great measure for the un- Season, 

 certainty which so long prevailed as to the eggs and breeding habits of 

 this bird. In Bornholm young birds were found on April 9, 1863 and 

 fresh eggs on March 23, 1864, but not till April 10 (incubated) in the 

 following year; while in E. Prussia Hartert found half -fledged young on 

 April 19, and nearly fresh eggs on Mar. 21. A clutch from Finland is 

 dated April 27. Eggs from the Schwarzwald were taken Mar. 12 — 29. 

 In Switzerland the time varies from Mar. 10 to Apr. 15, but generally 

 about Mar. 20, while clutches from Austro- Hungary have been taken 

 between Mar. 20 (5 days incubated) and April 18, and in Bosnia from 

 Mar. 21 to April 30. 



The period of incubation is stated to be 18 days, and the sitting 

 hen frequently does not leave the nest until the tree is struck. The eggs 

 are laid at intervals, according to Schiitt, of three days. 



Average measurements of 100 eggs (23 by Bau, 16 Johnson, 11 Rey, Measure- 

 and 50 by the author) 33.95x25.03 mm.. Max. 37.5x24.7 and 33x26 mm., °^«°t8. 

 Min. 30.3x24.6 and 34x21.5 mm. Average weight 590 mg. (Rey), 



