Vol. xxxiii.] 42 



melanothorax) *. Although this species is plentiful in 

 Cyprus, only three nests had hitherto been taken, all of 

 which were obtained by Glazner. Two of these were now 

 in the Tring Museum, and the third was in the Hungarian 

 National Museum at Buda-Pest. 



Mr. Jourdain also exhibited some abnormal eggs of a 

 species of Acrocephalus taken recently in England. Two of 

 them had proved on investigation to be the eggs of the Reed- 

 Warbler, although recorded in the ' Field ' as those of the 

 Marsh- Warbler. (See the ' Field/ Aug. 30, 1913, p. 521.) 



These eggs were examined by various members, who ex- 

 pressed different views as to their identity, and Mr. Selous 

 summed up the situation when he remarked that aberrant 

 eggs of Acrocephalus could not be identified. 



The nest, however, which had since been sent to Mr. Jourdain 

 for examination, proved to be that of Acrocephalus streperus. 



The Chairman remarked that Chelidon rufula belonged to 

 that group of Swallows typified by Chelidon smithii which 

 built long flask-shaped nests, and that the E. African form 

 of C. smithii laid white eggs. 



In reference to some remarks made on the colours of 

 Swallows' eggs, Mr. Stuart Baker said that as far as Indian 

 eggs were concerned he had found those of Hirundo smithii to 

 be about the most richly marked of all, and he had never seen 

 or heard of this species laying white eggs. Hume also 

 described the eggs of this swallow as " the most richly- 

 marked Swallows' eggs" he knew. In Mr. Stuart Baker's 

 experience, he had found that all the Striated Swallows 

 without exception laid pure white eggs, whilst those of the 

 H. rusiica group laid spotted eggs. The Cliff - Swallow, 

 Hirundo Jluvicola, laid both pure white and spotted eggs, 

 generally the latter. 



He also added that in India the Wire-tailed Swallow never 

 made nests of the retort-shape described by Mr. Rothschild, 

 a peculiarity of some of the Striated Swallows. 



* The parent birds were not identified. — Ed. 



