THIRTY EGGS LAID BY ONE BIRD. 161 



In these instances there was no interruption, as 

 far as could be ascertained, to the process of laying, 

 yet it is remarkable that in both, the total number 

 laid was precisely the same. The ordinary number 

 of eggs laid by the wryneck is from six to ten. It 

 is at least conceivable that three short intervals 

 might have occurred ; the first when ten had been 

 laid; the next after five, and six. 



Other instances, of a somewhat similar bearing, 

 are related. Ray states that a swallow has been 

 known, by the subtracting daily one of her eggs, 

 to have laid nineteen successively, and then to 

 have ceased. A hedge-sparrow has been robbed of 

 twelve eggs before showing any inclination to sit. 

 "The same, "observes Mr. Jesse, "has been noticed 

 with regard to the blackbird, lark, and long-tailed 

 titmouse, (and, it is said, the wren likewise.)" The 

 titmouse has gone on to lay as many as thirty eggs 

 before she began to sit. " In the case of the lark/' 

 says the same author, "if only one or two eggs are 

 allowed to remain in the nest, the bird will go on 

 to lay for a time indefinite, but if there are three 

 she will sit. The usual number of eggs in a lark's 

 nest is five." It may be questioned, however, how 

 far this statement is in accordance with fact that 



