8436 



The Zoologist — March, 1873. 



may be derived from comparing the texture, or the grain, of the 

 shell ; and Dr. Rey says that, in reply to the argument that these 

 blue so-called cuckoos' eggs may perhaps be gigantic eggs of the 

 redstart, he maintains that "in respect of the grain [das Korn], in 

 which they exactly agree with one another, these blue cuckoos' 

 eggs vary in every case from the eggs of the redstart. 



I proceed to the Catalogue, observing by the way how carefully 

 and minutely our author has tabulated the statistics of every nest 

 described ; showing first with regard to ihe foster-parents : — 



(a) The species. 



{b) The date of finding. 



(c) The number of the eggs. 



{d) The colouring and markings of the eggs. 

 And then with regard to the cuckoo's egg found therewith : — 



(e) The number. 



(/) The size in raillemetres. 



(g) The colouring, &c. 

 a method of investigating the question before us, which leaves 

 nothing to be desired, and an example of patient pains-taking, and 

 accurate examination of details very highly to be commended, and 

 which I venture to point out as worthy of imitation, inasmuch as it 

 is by a careful scrutiny of the details of individual specimens, and 

 then by a cautious comparison of many such examples, that 

 anything like a correct opinion on such a disputed point can be 

 obtained. 



Ovner of nest. 



Bate. 



No. of 



eggs 



in 



nest. 



Markings. 



Size in 

 millemctTes. 



Bemarks. 



1 Lanius collurio June 



June 13 



June 20 

 June 20 

 July 11 



2 Red sort 

 J- 11 j» 



Brown sort 1 

 Red sort 1 



22 16 l^^^T ^^^^ ■'-'• coUurio, 

 ' \ the brown sort. 



[Colouring and marking 



21 J, 16 J. between F.coelebs and 



[ F. chloris. 



22 17] ^^^^ L- collurio, brown 

 ' I sort. 



„„ ,_ f Between L. collurio and 

 ' ' I S. hoitensis. 



(Very like L. collurio, 

 ' [ brown sort. 



Reminding one of L. col- 

 lurio and S. horten- 

 sis; perfectly agreeing 

 amongst themselves. 



1 



22, IC 



r21,.lG 

 ^ t 21., 16 



