476 



8 



and - 43 broad. The ground-colour is always pure white, more or less spotted with brownish 

 red — the spots being much more numerous, and frequently in the form of a rich zone or cap, at 

 the larger end. Intermixed with the red spots are sometimes a few of purple-grey. Other eggs 

 are marked with deep-purple-brown spots, like those of the Chiffchaff, and the spots are also 

 intermingled with purple-grey. Some eggs are boldly and richly marked, while others are 

 minutely spotted. The egg also varies in shape ; but as a general rule they are rather short and 

 round, resembling in shape those of P. trochilus. In returning from Cashmere, on the south 

 face of the Pir Punjal mountain, and close to the footpath, I found, on 15th June, a nest of this 

 bird with four young ones. This nest was placed in an unusually steep bank. Half an hour 

 after finding the nest, and perhaps a thousand feet lower down the hill, I stood upon a mass of 

 snow which had accumulated in the bed of a mountain-stream." 



I have before me a large series of the eggs obtained by Mr. W. E. Brooks, but cannot add 

 any thing to the very careful description he has given of them. In size they vary from f-j} by 

 :,\ inch to i$ by fg- inch. 



The specimens figured are the two birds described, in spring and autumn plumage, and are 

 in my own collection. 



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



E Mus. II. E. Dresser. 



a, d ad. Lake Baikal, May 22nd, 1869 {Dybowski). b, d . Darasun, Dauria, August 29th, 1870 (Dybowski). 

 c, J. Etawah, N.W. India, September 30th. d, d . Etawah, October 16th, 1871 (W. E. Brooks), e, $. 

 Etawah, March 2nd, 1870 (W. E. B.). f, d. Amoy, April 5nd, 1858 (Swinhoe). 



E Mus. Lord Walden. 



a, b, <■,(/. Kashmir, July 1867 (Dr. Jerdon). e, ? . Maunbhoom, December 16th, 1864 (R. C. Beavan). 

 /, d . Maunbhoom, February 1865 (R. C. Beavan). 



E Mns. H. B. Tristram. 



a, ?. Jericho, January 1st, 1864 (H. B. T.). b. Himalaya, c. India, d, d. Etawah, October 30th, 1868 

 (Brooks), e. Etawah, October 1869 (Brooks), f, 6 , g. Cawnpore, October 6th, 1868 (Bird), h, d , i, 

 k, d- Cawnpore, India, October 1868 (Brooks). I, $. Amoy, February 1861 (Swinhoe). m, ? , n, $. 

 Hongkong, February 1860 (Swinhoe). 



