241 



In the following year however great uumbers bred in the district, 

 and 150 nests containing G66 eggs were taken by Knol)loch and his 

 assistants. In the same year Dresser found a nest with fledged young 

 on the island of Sandon, 27 miles from Uleaborg, and K(Mtel also ob- 

 tained over 20 eggs near the Muonio River, and since that date the 

 eggs have been taken in varying numbers almost annually. The breeding 

 range of this species is now known to extend from the extreme N. of 

 Norway (Varanger Fjord and R. Tana) to about lat. 65" in Sweden, 

 while there is some evidence that a few pairs may breed sporadically 

 even in the S. of Norway, but confirmation of this is needed. In Fin- 

 land its southern limit is probably the Kuopio district, while in N. 

 Russia Pleske describes it as common in the Olonetz governement, N. of 

 L. Onega and by the AVhite Sea, and it is also known to breed in the 

 Archangel government. [It is also found in Siberia and Alaska, as well 

 as along the Rocky Mountains to about 51". For details see Macoun, 

 Cat. Canadian Birds, p. 556]. 



Usually found in swampy forest, in conifers (spruce generally but Nest. 

 sometimes in Scotch fir or birch), at a height of about 9—15 ft., though 

 in stunted birches it has been known to nest only 4 ft. from the ground. 

 The usual breeding site is not in thick forest, but in somewhat open 

 spaces, among young or stunted trees. Sometimes the nest is placed 

 close to the trunk, but usually out on a bough. The foundation consists 

 of dry spruce twigs, and the materials are generally dark lichens (Usnea) 

 interwoven with a little grass. Occasionally a little down, a feather or 

 two, or a little Reindeer hair, are found in the lining. The whole nest 

 is about 7 in. across, while the diameter of the cup is about 3 in. and 

 2 in. deep. 



Usually 5 or 6 in number, occasionally only 4.* In a large series Eggs. 

 there is considerable variation in shape and size, but most eggs are a 

 somewhat rounded oval. The ground colour is ashy grey as a rule, 

 sometimes ashy blue, and at other times tinged with olive brown. Occa- 

 sionally it is so light as to be almost white. The markings consist of 

 rounded spots of black, or dark blackish brown sometimes with blurred 

 edges, sparsely distributed over the surface, with underlying blotches or 

 spots of lavender grey. In rare instances bold streaks are found and a 

 clutch in the Cambridge Museum has the markings almost obsolete. An 

 occasional tendency to erythristic colouring is also rarely met with. 



Extends from the beginning to nearly the end of June in Lapland, Breeding 

 but most eggs are found during the second week of the month, season. 



Average size of 100 eggs (64 by the writer, 25 by Rey, and 11 by Measure- 

 Westerlund), 24.03 x 17.29, Max. 28.3 X 18 (Cambr. Mus.) and 24.8 x 18.8, °''°'"' 



* One nest with 7 eggs was brought in by Wolley's collectors. 



16 



