5 
that he once found a nest in a gooseberry-bush not a metre above the ground. The nest is 
usually constructed of green moss intermixed with fine roots and a few grass-bents, and lined 
with bents, wool, hair, and feathers; but sometimes it picks up all sorts of refuse thrown out of 
a house to decorate its nest. Mr. Collett says that one was brought to him which was chiefly 
built of all sorts of clippings of all colours—thread, paper, &c. &c. I have generally found the 
nests constructed of moss as above stated, but sometimes with a very few feathers in the lining. 
Naumann says that both male and female cooperate in building the nest, which is usually 
constructed late in May or early in June, and that they both take their turn at incubation, 
which lasts fourteen days. The eggs are deposited early in June; and four or five, most 
frequently the latter number, form the usual complement. In colour the eggs of this bird are 
pale blue-green or sea-green, blotched with two shades of red, the surface-spots being much 
darker than the shell-markings; sometimes these latter are pale purplish red in tinge, but 
usually pale dull reddish. In size eggs in my collection vary from 73 by 36 to $8 by 2@ inch. 
Professor Newton refers to a curious fact respecting the nidification of this species recorded by 
the late Mr. Thomas Andrew Knight. A Flycatcher, he says, “built in his stove for several 
successive years. He observed that the bird quitted its eggs whenever the thermometer in the 
house was above 72° Fahr., and resumed her place upon the nest again when the thermometer 
sunk below.” As a rule but one brood is raised in the season; but should the nest be destroyed, 
a second one is usually built, if not too late in the season. 
The specimens figured are an old male and a young bird in first plumage, they being those 
above described. 
In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens :— 
E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 
a. Near London, May 20th, 1870. 4, c,d. Hampstead, June 1870 (Davy). e, f, juv., g, juv. Hampstead, 
September 1875 (Davy). h, dé. Cookham, August 1866 (W. Briggs). i. Pagham, July 1870 (R. B. 
Sharpe). j. Hants, 1847 (P. L. Sclater). k,d. Piedmont, May 17th, 1870 (Salvadori). J. Uima, 
Archangel, June 19th, 1874 (J. N. Piottuch). m,2. Asia Minor, October 4th, 1870 (Rodson). n, 2. 
Smyrna, November 27th, 1874 (C. Danford). o. Persia (Blanford). 
E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 
a, 6. Northrepps, Norwich, July 24th, 1866 (H. B.T.). 6. Castle Eden, Durham (H.B.T.). c, 2. Plain of 
Gennesareth, April 28th, 1864 (H.B.T.). d,¢. Mount Carmel, Palestine, April 23rd, 1864 (H. B. T.). 
E Mus. Ind. Cale. 
a,@. Narmanshir, S.E. Persia, April 16th. 6, c,d, d,9,e. Shiraz (Major St. John). f,g, 6d. Isfahan. 
h, i, 3. Kohrda, north of Isfahan. k, ¢. Elburz Mountains, August 10th (W. T. Blanford). 
E. Mus. Howard Saunders. 
a, b, c, 3, d, e, 9. Malaga and Granada, Spain, spring and summer. 
3N 
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