CHAPTER X 



Spotted eggs Origin, and continuance of Hawfinch Woodpeckers 

 Fasting caterpillars Dried-up lichen. 



ONE of the nests of the Pied Flycatcher referred to in the 

 last chapter contained eggs distinctly and regularly freckled 

 with numerous reddish spots, chiefly confined to the larger 

 ends, and removable by the application of a wet handker- 

 chief, upon which the operation left a distinct stain of pink. 

 They were not the first spotted eggs of this species which I 

 had seen, nor are such varieties, I believe, generally regarded 

 as very uncommon, but they afford an opportunity for some 

 remarks upon the subject of abnormally spotted eggs gener- 

 ally, with special reference to those of one or two species in 

 particular. 



It is more than thirty years ago since I first found spotted 

 eggs in the nests of House Martins, and since then I have 

 seen similarly marked eggs of that species, as well as of its 

 congener, the Sand Martin, so frequently that I have long 

 ceased to look upon them as anything unusual. They may 

 be found almost everywhere, but the spots are frequently so 

 small, and so pale in colour, as to be easily overlooked un- 

 less the eggs are carefully examined. The spots are usually 

 some shade of pink, but occasionally of a darkish red- brown : 

 they are nearly always easily removable by a slight amount 

 of washing, so as to leave no trace of their former presence 

 visible to the unassisted eye, and they leave a faint stain 

 upon a white cloth used in the process of washing. I have 

 never failed to remove the spots from unblown Martins' 

 eggs in this way, but the colouring matter is either some- 

 times naturally insoluble by water, or becomes so with age, 

 for it has been found impossible to wash the spots from 



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