464 TROGLODYTID/E. 



The eggs are commonly from six to eight in number, but 

 twenty or more are said to have been found. They measure 

 from -71 to *62 by from '52 to '47 in., and are white, gene- 

 rally with more or fewer light red spots and specks, but 

 sometimes without any. The young are hatched after about 

 ten days' incubation, during which time the male feeds the 

 female while she remains on the eggs, and afterwards both 

 parents are most assiduous in supplying their offspring with 

 insects in their various states. Mr. Weir, whose observa- 

 tions on this species are the fullest that have been published, 

 found that the young were fed at least 278 times in the 

 course of the day. Two broods are not unfrequently pro- 

 duced in the season. In reference to the depth of the 

 nest, and the number of young by which it is sometimes 

 occupied for it is said that as many as sixteen have been 

 found in one nest a remark taken by Ray from Nicholas 

 Cox*, an author nowadays but little known, has been thus 

 paraphrased by Grahame : 



" But now behold the greatest of this train 

 Of miracles, stupendously minute ; 

 The numerous progeny, clamant for food 

 Supplied by two small bills, and feeble wings 

 Of narrow range; supplied, aye, duly fed, 

 Fed in the dark, and yet not one forgot !" 



This little bird is generally dispersed over the three king- 

 doms, being common even in the Outer Hebrides and in 

 Orkney, while a few breed in Shetland. In Norway it breeds 

 as far as the Trondhjem Fjord, but in Sweden it goes even 

 further to the northward, and reaches lat. 64 N. It also 

 occurs in Finland in a parallel nearly as high, and Herr 

 Meves found it in the large woods of north-western Russia. 

 It does not seem to extend eastward of the Ural chain, but 

 further south it is pretty common at Lenkoran, and its limits 

 include Persia, where it was observed by De Filippi and 

 Mr. Blanford. Specimens have been sent from Trebizond, 

 and, though not common, it is resident in the northern hills of 



* The Gentleman's Recreation : In Four Parts : viz. Hunting, Hawking, 

 Fowling, Fishing. Fourth Edition. London : 1697. Part iii. p. 65. The 

 idea was traced to its source by Mr. Robert Gray. 



