50 COLOURS AND MARKINGS ON EGGS 

 has her clutch in holes (rabbit holes) under 

 ground. The majority of birds, however, lay 

 maculate eggs of great beauty and attractive- 

 ness. 



Now, the question arises, wherefore are 

 birds' eggs thus beautifully marked and 

 coloured ? When birds build no nest, but lay 

 their eggs on the bare ground, or amongst 

 shingle and stones, the markings no doubt are 

 protective ; but only from the fact that the 

 blotches and spots, taken in conjunction with 

 the surroundings, break up the outUne of the 

 eggs ; the effect would be just the same what- 

 ever the colours, so long as the eggs were 

 spotted. 



There are, of course, various theories to 

 account for the colours and markings on birds' 

 eggs. For instance, in the case of the hedge- 

 sparrow's egg, Mr. E. Kay Robinson, the dis- 

 tinguished field-naturalist and authority on 

 these matters, suggests the reason why hedge- 

 sparrows' eggs are so deeply coloured, is that 

 they shall act as a warning to browsing 

 animals. An animal, he says, in the act of 

 feeding on low-growing shrubs, suddenly dis- 

 closing a hedge-sparrow's nest, is startled by 

 the appearance of the intensely blue eggs, and 

 so ceases to rummage in that particular spot ; 

 the nest is thus saved from destruction which 



