SNOW BUNTING. 139 



Fervently do I trust that the "brave okl oak" of the 

 gallant Sir John Franklin's trusty ships, may yet be 

 found to have afforded no shelter for the nest of the 

 Snow-flake, but that in the words of the still-used form 

 of the old bills of lading, "so may the good ship arrive 

 at her desired port in safety." 



The eggs, from four to six in number, are greenish 

 or bluish white, encircled at the thicker end with 

 irregular brown spots, and many blots of pale purple: 

 they are rather round and obtuse in form. Meyer 

 mentions one in the possession of Mr. Hancock, of 

 Newcastle, marked all over with spots of a reddish 

 and purple hue. 



One is pale bluish grey, mottled over thinly with 

 slightly darker marks, and a few much darker irregular 

 streaks. 



A second is very pale greenish blue, with a few dots 

 and one or two streaks of reddish brown and brown. 



A third is light coloured, nearly hidden with yellowish 

 brown, and a few dark streaks here and there. 



A fourth is grey, much mottled r.nd marbled with 

 pale yellowish brown, and a few darker spots, with 

 two or three large dull damask red blots. 



A fifth is pale dull bluish white, with a few larger 

 and smaller handsome spots and dashes of reddish and 

 blackish brown, mostly about the lower end. 



The plate is from a drawing of an egg laid in the 

 aviary of Mr. Dashwood, of Beccles, Suffolk. 



