Birds. 2387 



bridgeshire ; the latter being almost globular and milk-white, seldom spotted ; the 

 former of an oval shape, sometimes with the small end prolonged, something like 

 those of the plover tribe. I took the bird out of the nest in two or three instances, 

 and it was most certainly the common wren. But I have eggs of the chiff-chaff taken 

 in Norfolk, also nearly globular : the difference in size of some of the specimens of 

 both this bird's and the common wren's eggs is very remarkable. Neither of the spe- 

 cies is rare in this locality, although the chiff-chaff is not so common as the wren. 

 May there not be two species of Troglodytes ? as it is singular that eggs should be 

 globular in one locality and oval in the other. There is a difference in the colour of 

 the common wren, those in Cambridgeshire seeming very much smaller and darker 

 coloured than those I have seen here. I may mention that the bird I last took off 

 the nest in Cambridgeshire was sitting on only seven eggs, of the globular shape above 

 mentioned. — Henry I. Bellars, Curator of the Museum, Norwich ; January 20, 1849. 



Sylvia hippolais in Britain. — With pleasure I noticed the announcement (Zool. 

 2228) of the occurrence of the melodious willow wren (Sylvia hippolais of continental 

 authors) in this country, a specimen being recorded by Dr. Plomley to have been ob- 

 tained near Dover. I have also observed the remarks by Mr. Lean (Zool. 2346), and 

 also those by the editor in the preface to the volume for 1848, relating to the possi- 

 bility of this species being a more regular visitant to the southern counties of England 

 than has hitherto been believed, and that the great similarity existing between this 

 and other nearly allied species may have prevented its being previously noticed. Mr. 

 Lean wishes to know whether the eggs of Sylvia hippolais are known ; and my object 

 in making the present observations is chiefly on this head, as I believe I am pretty 

 well acquainted with the eggs and nidification of this pretty songster, — and this may 

 perhaps help to throw some light on the matter in question. Eight or nine years ago 

 I passed two years at school in the neighbourhood of Hamburg, where the bird in 

 question is far from being uncommon during the summer months, and where it goes 

 under the name of ' bastard nachtigall,' or bastard nightingale, — I suppose from the 

 qualities of its song. I should suppose that no person could easily confound it with 

 any other of the Sylviadae after having once seen it, as the light sulphur-yellow of its 

 breast and under parts is much more vivid than in any other that I am acquainted 

 with ; but writing only from memory I am unable to give the precise colour, markings, 

 &c, and can only again repeat that it cannot easily be mistaken for any of its con- 

 geners. The nest, however, furnishes a much better subject than the bird itself to 

 distinguish it from those of other species. I have repeatedly found and taken them, 

 and have always been struck with the extreme beauty and neatness of the construc- 

 tion, differing in the materials as well as form from any other nest that I am acquainted 

 with. I will endeavour to describe its appearance, and also the eggs, to the best of 

 my recollection. The nest is generally placed pretty high up in the hedges and 

 thickets, and in form most resembles that of the chaffinch, but is somewhat smaller. 

 The materials used were invariably the fine white shavings of the bark of the birch 

 tree, mixed with white lichens and cobwebs, so that the whole outward colour of the 

 nest was white. I do not remember what composed the inner lining. The eggs 

 were of a fine uniform rosy pink colour, with small purple — almost black— spots, and 

 could not easily, I am sure, be confounded with any others that I am acquainted with. 

 The nest without any dome or covering. — G. Norman; January 2, 1849. 



Egg of Sylvia hippolais. — In reply to the inquiry of Mr. Lean (Zool. 2346), as to 

 whether the egg of Temminck's Sylvia hippolais is certainly known, I would refer 



