SEPARATE LOTS OF EGGS. 147 



anything as to the probability or otherwise of the 

 explanation just given. 



A number of instances are recorded where more 

 than one set of eggs have been deposited in one 

 season. A single pair of birds, if unmolested, will 

 generally only produce one set or lot of eggs ; but 

 if their nests are accidentally destroyed, or if the 

 same circumstance happens, or indeed if the eggs 

 are intentionally removed, in particular cases seve- 

 ral, two, three, or even four separate lots of eggs 

 may be deposited. These eggs, however, are 

 produced by an extraordinary and not by an ordi- 

 nary combination of circumstances, and must be 

 considered accordingly as an effort of nature which 

 is, in most instances, contrary to the common 

 rule. The numbers laid by various families of 

 birds will come under notice in the next chapter. 



We must hasten to close our chapter on the de- 

 position of the egg. Our attempt has been to show, 

 that at this epoch in the Life of a Bird a new set 

 of impulses begin to animate it, leading to the 

 bird's taking the first step towards bringing a brood 

 of its own species into the world, and during which 

 various interesting particulars connected with the 

 actions of birds in the deposition of their eggs 



