COLOUR OF EGGS. 125 



eggs are of a remarkable whiteness. The eggs 

 are also white among some species which, like 

 the domestic swallow, certain Passeres, the Troglo- 

 dites, &c., construct their nests with such narrow 

 openings that the eye of their enemies cannot pene- 

 trate within. White eggs are also found with birds 

 that quit them only during the night, or, at least, 

 very late during the day, such as the owls and fal- 

 cons. Lastly, this colour is found among birds 

 which lay only one or two eggs, and sit immediately 

 after, like the pigeons, the boobies, and the petrels. 

 As to the bright green or blue colour, it is found to 

 belong to many species which make their nests in 

 hollows, like the starling, the bullfinch, the fly- 

 catcher, &c. In the second place, this colour is 

 common to the eggs of birds, the nests of which are 

 constructed with green moss, or placed at least in 

 the midst of grass, but always well concealed, such 

 for example as the torn-tit, linnet, &c. Lastly, 



Egg of the Tom-tit (Farus cceruleas}. 



green eggs are met with among many strong birds, 

 such as the herons, able to defend themselves against 

 plunderers. A light green colour, verging toward a 

 yellowish tint, is found among the eggs of the many 

 Gallinacea which lay among the grass, without 

 making more than an imperfect nest, which soon dis- 

 appears beneath the quantity of eggs ; like the 

 hoopoe, the Perdrix c.inernis, the pheasant. The 

 same colour is also remarked among several of the 

 Palmipedes, which quit their eggs when they lay 

 them, but which are attentive in watching them, as 

 the swans, the geese, the ducks, the divers, &c. The 



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