247 



is often noticed haunting old oaks or beeches, using natural hollows or 

 Woodpecker's old holes, but will also breed in rotten stumps, sometimes 

 quite close to the ground. Holes in walls of loose masonry, or in the 

 gable end of an empty barn are also favourite sites, while nesting boxes 

 are frequently made use of, especially in Scandinavia. The nest is slight, 

 composed generally of a few dead leaves as foundation, upon which the 

 cup is formed of bents, moss, roots and fragments of the outer bark of 

 the Honeysuckle, lined with fine roots or sometimes Luzula. A few 

 feathers, hair, and wool are said to be occasionally found in the lining, 

 and cobwebs are also used at times. (As the same nesting sites are often 

 occupied for many years in succession, it probably pairs for life.) The 

 height from the ground varies from a few inches up to 30 ft. or more. 

 There are instances on record in which eggs have been laid in Blue 

 Tits' nests, and also in which this species and the Redstart have been 

 found laying together. 



Usually 6 or 7, sometimes only 5, but 8 and even 9 have been Eggs. 

 known to occur. They are of a very delicate pale blue, thinner shelled 

 and of finer grain than those of the Redstart. 



Some eggs are said to show traces of fine reddish spots, but such 

 cases must be exceedingly rare. 



In Great Britain the earliest clutches may be found by mid-May, but Breeding, 

 the best time is the last weeks of May and the first days of June. Only 

 one brood is reared, but second layings may be found in the latter half 

 of June when the first clutch has been taken. The hen sits very closely 

 and will sometimes allow herself to be lifted by hand from the eggs, 

 and when flushed from the nest is soon driven on again by the cock. 

 Incubation lasts about a fortnight. 



Average size of 100 eggs (39 by Rey and 61 by the writer), ^easur.- 

 17.36 X 13.44 mm., Max. 19.3 X 13.5 and 18 X 14.2; Min. 15.7 X 13.6 

 and 17x12.1. A double e^^ in Reys collection measures 21.7x15.3 

 and weighs 150 mg., while two dwarfs measure 16 X 11.1 and 14.8x12.3. 

 Rey gives the average weight as 92 mg., and Ban as 89 mg. Average 

 weight of 18 full eggs, 1.591 g. (R. H. Read). 



I). Caucasian Pied Flycatcher, M. atrieapilla semiturquata Horn. 



Muscicapa semitorquata Horn. Uresser, B. of Europe, IX, p. 173 

 and Man. Pal. Birds, p. 256. M. atrieapilla semitorquata Horn. Hartert, 

 Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 483. 



Breeding Range: The Caucasus, Asia Minor, Persia. 



Radde states that it breeds in the lower Aragwa valley, near Tiflis, 

 and also met with it up to 4000 ft. It apparently also nests in the 



