10 EGGS AND EGG^COLLEOTING. 



rarely than other tints." Yes, simply because they are 

 generally a source of danger to the possessor. 



Three familiar instances of special modifications in the 

 plumage of the female are to be found in the black grouse, 

 pheasant, and blackbird, all nidificating in situations more 

 or less fraught with danger. Remarkable again is the fact 

 that where the female is more conspicuously marked than the 

 male the latter takes upon himself the duties of incubation 

 entirely, or renders a great deal of aid, which is strong proof 

 that dull subdued colours have been adopted for the preser- 

 vation of the young in their several stages of helplessness. 



Protective Construction of Nests. It is sur- 

 prising again to find Darwin, in arguing that few British 

 birds build covered nests to protect themselves against 

 the conspicuousness of their own colours, citing the 

 Dipper as an instance of this. But what about the white 

 breast of this bird, which marks it out at long distances 

 against the dark rock or water? Again, her pure white 

 eggs are manifestly a source of danger, more conspicuous 

 even than the bird. It must not be supposed I overlook 

 another important feature in the covered nest of this bird, 

 which is, however, subservient to the bird's desire to hide her 

 white plumage and eggs, which renders it equally preserva- 

 tive in character. The bird generally builds near a water- 

 fall, often quite behind, undoubtedly for the safety this 

 situation affords, and she is not only obliged to construct a 

 covered nest, but one which must keep out the constant 

 dripping of water percolating through fissures in the rock. 

 The construction of this nest even cuts off the chance of a 

 stray splash of water finding its way to the eggs or young 

 during the parent bird's absence, by the peculiarly ingenious 

 entrance she makes to her little home. 



