506 



I have thirty-five eggs of the present species, all obtained near Madrid, which vary somewhat 

 both in coloration and markings, some having the ground-colour dull white, with a faint sea- 

 green tinge, and others dark buff or dull stone-colour. The markings, which consist of pale 

 purplish brown underlying shell-markings and dark brown surface-spots, are sometimes small 

 and generally distributed over the surface of the shell, and at others larger and confined more to 

 the larger end. One dark egg is very richly blotched all over the surface ; and another has 

 scarcely any marks except a few very large blotches at the larger end. Two have the markings, 

 which are small, collected chiefly at the smaller end. In size they vary from 1-^g- by f-jy to 1-^ 

 by ff ; and one unusually small egg measures only f J by f-g- inch. I have a considerable series 

 of eggs of Cyanopica cyanea, the species found in Eastern Asia ; and on comparing them with my 

 series of the present species, I find them undistinguishable either in size or colour. 



The specimen figured is an adult male, obtained near Madrid, now in my collection, and is 

 the specimen described. 



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



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 

 a,b,<s. Madrid, May 1866. c, $ . Madrid, May 15th, 1866, shot from the nest (H. E. D.) . 



E. Mus. Brit. Beg. 

 a, b. Spain. 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 



a, 6. Seville, Spain, April 16th, 1869 (H. S.). b, 6. Seville, Spain, December 27th, 1869. c. Granada, 

 Spain, October 1870. d, ? . Granada, Spain, August 1869. e, 8 ,f, 6 , g, 6 , h, d , i, 2 ■ Granada, Spain, 

 November 1872. 



