FECUNDITY. 167 



everywhere abundant, everywhere cramful of eggs, and all species 

 seemed to be adequately represented. Nearly every nest we 

 examined contained the maximum clutch permitted by book- 

 writing authorities, and in some cases the legitimate number was 

 exceeded, the most notable instance, perhaps, being that of a 

 Whinchat incubating seven eggs. Indeed, the wit of the party 

 remarked that the prescribed maximum had been passed in the 

 case of every nest we had found, save that of the miserable 

 Cushat-Dove, which had merely deposited the regulation couple. 



