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positive discovery of the eggs of this bird. Its empty nest had been found by Herr Malm 

 some thirty years ago (Naturhist. Tidsskr. 1845, p. 193), and there was Professor Nilsson's 

 statement of what the eggs were said to be like (Skand. Faun. 2nd ed. Foglarna. i. p. 185); 

 but this seems to have been all that was known. In 'Naumannia' for 1853 (p. 425), Dr. Bal- 

 damus describes two eggs from Finland, which he thought could scarcely be those of any 

 other bird ; but the warning of his concluding observation, ' Noch unsicher,' is fully bome out 

 by the figure of one of these eggs which he gave in the same journal next year, and is as 

 unlike what Ave now know to be the egg of Perisoreus infaustus as can be required to prove 

 that his supposition was unfounded. At the meeting of the German Ornithologists' Society at 

 Gotha in July 1854, Dr. Kjasrbolling exhibited one of two eggs and part of a nest which he had 

 obtained from West Finmark, and ascribed to this species. He said (Naumannia, 1854, p. 310 ; 

 Journ. fur Orn. 1854, p. lxi) that the eggs agreed in size with those of Turdus iliacus, but were 

 ' mehr rundlich und zugespitzt,' which seem to be rather contradictory epithets. The history of 

 the eggs is not stated ; and I must be pardoned for expressing my belief that the Doctor was 

 mistaken either in assigning them to the Siberian Jay or those with which he compared them to 

 the Eedwing. However, be that as it may, in this same year (1854) Mr. Wolley certainly 

 obtained eggs of Perisoreus infaustus. These, three in number, were, as he was subsequently 

 told by the finder, Johan Samuel Mantuvaara, in a nest made principally of ' tree-hair ' (lupu), 

 built about two fathoms from the ground in a small Pinus sylvestris, very thick and close in its 

 branches, much overgrown with the same lichen. It was early in the spring, there was still 

 much snow, and he was on a hill near Rowtos-jarwi cutting timber; when the tree fell it touched 

 another, and the bird flew out. These three eggs, though much damaged, are now in my possession. 

 The following year (1855) Mr. Wolley obtained five perfect eggs out of fourteen, the contents of 

 four nests found by Johan Eric Rowa — two with four, and two with three eggs in each. These 

 nests were mostly in small trees near bogs, and so low that they could be reached by the hand 

 when standing on the snow ; but one was halfway up a much bigger tree. The nests were con- 

 spicuous enough, made of sticks and lichen, but not near together. One of Johan's brothers 

 looked for two days without finding a nest, but in this way he got to know the ground the birds 

 frequented. ' In the morning they collect in flocks to feed ; and when a pair is seen to leave the 

 rest they can sometimes be traced to the nest; but the flight is performed in a way to avoid 

 observation. At its nest the bird is generally quite silent ; but while one is climbing up it will 

 make a little noise. When suddenly started from the nest it flies straight off; but when it has 

 young it will scarcely leave the tree, and scolds roundly at an invader. The best way to find a 

 nest is to quarter the ground regularly ; and the skidor-m&rks enable this to be done with great 

 accuracy. The search is best made in the night, when the snow bears, and of course in places 

 known to be frequented by the birds.' In some nests, according to the statement of this man, 

 whose words were taken down by Mr. Wolley, there were young hatched in the first week of 

 May ; but a fresh nest was found towards the end of that week or the beginning of the second 

 week ; and as the bird did not know of the discovery, she afterwards laid three eggs, which were 

 in due time taken. Just before St. Eric's day (18th of May) eight nests, with young, were found 

 by Johan and his brothers. They thought that it was in the habit of collecting feathers for the 

 lining of its nest in the preceding autumn. 



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