156 
NESTS AND EGGS OF 
lilac. Cabinet specimens, however, show sometimes a faint bluish- or 
greenish-white tint. The markings, though varying considerably, are 
uniformly distributed. In size, there is noticeable but little variation in 
specimens from diverse localities ; eggs from Michigan differing but slightly 
from those from Texas, and these sustaining the same relation to sets from 
Pennsylvania. The average dimensions of a clutch of four from New 
Jersey are .59 by .48 inches. The depth of the nest precludes us from 
showing the eggs in sitii. We are therefore compelled to give a drawing 
below, which will be found to be of the natural proportions. The female- 
bird, which is placed in close contiguity to the nest, may be easily distin- 
guished from her mate, by the absence of black upon the head. 
