264 The Neiv Forest : its History and its Scenery. 



collection vary in colouring from the light dull vermilion, which 

 so often characterizes the merlin's eggs, to a deep rich morone, 

 tinted, especially in newly-taken specimens, with a delicate 

 crimson bloom.* 



A few words more. The birds are not much seen in the 

 day, but generally early in the morning. Whilst the hen bird 



* As so few opportunities occur of weighing the eggs of the honey- 

 buzzard and hobby, the following notes, most careflilly made by Mr, Rake 

 and myself, may not be without interest : — 



Honey-buzzard's nest, taken June 16th, in a low fork of an oak-tree in 

 Anses Wood, contained two fresh-laid eggs: — 



First egg (apothecaries' weight) . loz. 3dr. Isc. 5gr. 



Second egg (very slightly dinted) . loz. 2dr. 2sc. lOgr. 

 Honey-buzzard's nest, taken June 24th, in Ravensnest Wood, near 

 Brook, in the higher branches of a tall beech, overhanging the road. 

 This nest had been deserted, and the two eggs were very much 

 addled and hard set : — 



First egg loz. 4dr. Osp. lOgr. 



Second egg loz. 3dr. 2sc. lOgr. 



Hobby's nest, placed in a nest which, in 1861, had been occupied by a 

 honey-buzzard, was taken in Prior's Acre, June 21st, and contained 

 three fresh-laid eggs, now in Mr. Rake's cabinet : — 



First egg 6dr. Osc. Ogr. 



Second egg 5dr. 2sc. lOgr. 



Third egg (very slightly dinted) . . 5dr. 2sc. Ogr. 

 Hobby's nest, taken in South Bentley Wood, July 12, contained two 

 eggs hard sat upon and addled : — 



First egg ...... 5dr. 2sc. 15gr. 



Second egg (cracked) .... 5dr. Osc. 14gr. 



With these weights may be compared the following : — Egg, supposed to 

 be that of a merlin, taken with two others which were broken, June 17th, 

 1862, near Alum Green, in the hole of a beech, rather sat upon, weighed 

 4dr. Isc. lOgr. Two fresh-laid eggs of kestrels, taken at the same time, 

 weighed 4d. 2sc. 15gr. Other eggs of kestrels, however, have weighed con- 

 siderably more ; and two others, also laid about the same time, came to 

 5 dr. 5 gr. 



264 



