ORIGINAL SKETCHES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 3 



that had built and utilized the nest in the adjoining tree. I took 

 four of the nine eggs away, and the old bird incubated the 

 remainder, and in the course of time brought forth a second 

 brood. Meanwhile the other Mistle-Thrush had constructed a 

 second nest a short distance off, and she too was successful in 

 hatching out a second brood. I should add that the eggs in the 

 two nests in the first instance presented very distinctive features, 

 so the absolute accuracy of what I have related need not for one 

 moment be called in question. The Curator of the Leicester 

 Museum and others were acquainted with this interesting case at 

 the time. 



The year following (1884) only one nest was built ; I found it 

 on March 24th, some six weeks earlier than in 1883, when the 

 two nests had been built in May, altogether a late date, except on 

 the hypothesis that it was a case of second nesting, which seems 

 probable. The nest was placed in pretty much the same spot in 

 1884 ; it contained seven eggs, all fresh, and an old bird was 

 brooding them when I discovered it. Of the seven eggs, four 

 were of one size, shape, and colouring, and three of another, and 

 both lots corresponded with the character and were beyond all 

 doubt referable to the two types of the eggs laid in the preceding 

 year. It maybe hazardous to theorize on the subject, but I have 

 a theory, and it is this — that the two hen birds shared a mate 

 between them. In the one instance the eggs were small and 

 round, while in the other they were rather elongated, the ground 

 colour, moreover, as also the markings, varying with each type. 

 Having kept specimens of each in 1883, I naturally compared 

 them with those laid in 1884, and there can be no sort of doubt 

 but that they were the produce of the same two birds. 



With regard to this species, I do not remember having met 

 with anything else in their economy or life-history that need be 

 reproduced here. Their conspicuous nests, built early in the 

 spring of the year, and containing, as a rule, four or five eggs, are 

 known to most schoolboys ; but when I come to deal with the 

 Lapwing, I shall relate what I have every reason for believing was 

 a second instance of a single male bird aiding and abetting the 

 nidification of two females. Polygamy is natural to some species, 

 but Mistle-Thrushes and Lapwings do not come within the 

 category. Of course, I am far from contending that the accuracy 



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