COLOUR OF EGGS. 



131 



greenish, or yellowish ground. It is remarkable that 

 the ejrgs which certain species deposit on green herbs 

 partake more or less of this colour. The passeres 

 have eggs, the ground of which is white or whitish, 

 blue or bluish, green usually spotted with deep 

 colours, such as red, brown, and black. The torn-tit 

 kind, which nestle in the hollows of trees, have eggs 

 altogether white, or white picked with red. The 

 same is the case with the swallows and martins. 

 The larks, pipits, &c. have the eggs of an earthy 

 hue*." 



* Cuvier's Animal Kingdom, Ave&, i. 138. 



