ABNORMAL EGGS. 205 



also seen a Chaffinch's nest containing five pale 

 greenish-blue unmarked eggs. I found a Black- 

 bird's nest in the spring of 1896 containing four 

 small greenish-grey unspotted eggs, the shells of 

 which were rough and granulated. 



Some birds lay their eggs straight off, one 



COAL TIT. 



every day, and then commence to sit, whilst others, 

 probably influenced by the character of the weather, 

 lay irregularly, missing a day or two as they pro- 

 ceed. I have endeavoured to make a series of sys- 

 tematic observations on this point, but accidents 

 and lack of time to carry them out properly have 

 rendered my figures unworthy of tabulation. 



What puzzles me in regard to some birds is that 

 they build in such cramped situations and lay so 



