628 



8 



ground in a slight hollow, either on the open heath or else amongst the trees. The eggs are 

 elongated, tapering equally towards each end, and measure from 1^ by §§ inch to 1^§ by f-J 

 and 1^§ by f^ inch. In colour and markings they are subject to considerable variation, some 

 having the ground-colour nearly pure white, and being more or less blotched and marbled with 

 pale purplish underlying shell-markings and dark brown surface-spots ; whereas others have the 

 ground-colour greyish white, with a buff tinge, and are faintly blotched and marbled with dull 

 purplish grey, or else are thickly blotched with purplish grey and dark brown on a greyish white 

 ground tinged with buff. One brood only is raised in the season, unless the first eggs are 

 destroyed, in which case it is said to lay again ; but then, as a rule, only one egg instead of two 

 is deposited. The young birds when first hatched are covered with grey down, which is darker 

 on the back and lighter on the underparts; but ere long they get feathered, and then resemble 

 the female, but are duller in colour. 



The specimen figured is the adult male, from Sweden, above described, and is in my own 

 collection. 



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



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, J . West Drayton, May 25th, 1869. b, 6 . Farnboro', Kent (H. E. D.). c, d • Kareholm, May 21st, 1867. 

 d, 6. Syria (Verreaux). e, $ . South Persia, May 29th, 1872 {TV. T. Blanford). f, g,juv. Highgate, 

 July 14th, 1869 {R. B. Sharpe). h,juv. Hampshire (P. L. Sclater). 



E Mus. J. H. Gurney,jun. 

 a, 6 . Northrepps, Norfolk, June 7th, 1867. b. Walsingham (/. H. G.). c, 2. Genoa, May 1871. 



E Mus. Howard Saunders. 



a, 2 ■ Near Seville, May 18th, 1868 {H. S.). b, 6. Malaga, April 29th. c, $ . Malaga, May 19th. d, e, <3 , 

 f, 2 . Valencia, March 24th to 28th. g, 6 . Valencia, April 30th. 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram, 

 a. Durham (H. B. T.). b. Sussex, September 1863 (J. E. Hurting). 



