486 



measurements vary from 1-^g by \ % to \\% by f~§ inch. Mr. Benzon writes to us respecting its 

 habits and nidification in Denmark as follows : — " It occurs in most of our forests ; but its shy 

 nature causes it to hide its nest, so that it is but seldom found ; and as it rarely brooks others 

 near its breeding-place, they nest only here and there. It is a most destructive bird, and not 

 only sucks the eggs of other birds, chiefly of Thrushes, but kills their young. After the 

 breeding-season large flocks of this noisy bird range through the woods, and are most numerous 

 in the forests of North Zeeland, being there less molested ; it probably breeds occasionally twice 

 in the season, as I have eggs obtained in May and on the 10th of June, whereas it usually lays 

 in April, and, according to Kjserbolling, as early as March. Eggs in my collection measure from 

 29 by 21*5 to 33 - 5 by 24 millimetres." Dr. Rey informs us that he has found eggs in Saxony 

 from the 24th of Apiil to the 9th of June ; one nest was placed so low on the branches of an 

 oak-tree that he had no difficulty in looking into it, though standing on the ground. He further 

 states that, although six appears to be the usual number of eggs, as many as seven are often 

 found. The average of a hundred eggs he measured he gives as 3T6 by 23, the largest measur- 

 ing 35 by 23, and the smallest 29 by 21 millimetres respectively. 



The specimens described and figured are in Dresser's collection ; particulars as to locality 

 are given above. 



In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a. Kent (H. E. D.). b. Surrey (H. E. D.). c. Near Reading, February 5th, 1870 (C. Howlett). d, j, e, 2 ■ 

 Zeeland, Denmark, March 1871 (A. Benzon). f, ?. Stockholm, April 18th, 1864. g, d. Gibraltar, 

 April 21st, 1872 {Major Irby). h, 6,i, 2- Piedmont, June and February (Count Salvadori). j, J. 

 Olympus, Macedonia, November 6th, 1869 (Dr. Krilper). k, 2- Petna Hore, Turkey, December (Thos. 

 Robson). l,juv. Belgium (Dubois). 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram. 



u, <j . Epping Forest, July 1863 (J. E. Hurting), b. Castle Eden (H. B. T.). c, ? . Hampstead, January 2nd, 

 1866 (H.M. Upcher). 



E Mus. Lord Lilford. 

 a, <3 . Lilford, Northants, March 1866 (L.). 



E Mus. J. H. Gurney, jun. 



a, 2 . Wolsingham, April 20th, 1867. b. Keswick, October 1870. c. Norfolk, December 27th. d, $ . Moscow, 

 September 1869 (/. H. G.). e, <3 juv. Sparham, Norfolk (F. Nor gate). 



