166 



THE NATURALIST. 



of each bird is about 2 J ounces; tbe female shot at Worstead, on the 15th of 

 December, was exceedingly fat, and weighed just 3 ounces. Bill, nearly black, 

 with pale brown edges at base ; straight and slightly hooked at tip of 

 upper mandible, and measures from tip to base J of an inch, and at the base 

 (underneath) it is f of an inch across. Mr. Yarrell, states the colour of the 

 eye as red, other authors pronounce it dark brown — both assertions appear 

 correct. In my wholesale examination I found those of the immature birds 

 to be hazel or dark brown, which attain a reddish hue in adults ; immature 

 specimens have however passed under my notice, in wl.iich the colour of the eyes 

 has assumed a reddish tint, but these in every instance upon close examina- 

 tion I found to be caused by their being shot in the head or other vital parts, 

 the overflow of blood thereby discolouring them. 



(To he continued. J 



KOTES O:^ THE NESTS AND EGGS OE BEITISH BIEDS. 



By Henry L. Saxby, M.D. 



Sparrowhawk, Falco nisus. Of four eggs taken from a nest near 

 Shanklin, Isle of Wight, some years ago, three are coloured in the usual 

 manner, but the fourth, which was the last one laid is perfectly white with 

 the exception of a few pale brownish dots upon one side. 



Eedbacked Shrike, Laniiis colluris. This species will return annually 

 to the same locality, often to the very same bush for the purpose of nidifica- 

 tion. Upon one occasion I knew it repair a nest which had been used during 

 the previous season, but this occurred in a sheltered spot where the storms 

 of winter had not caused their ordinary amount of damage. Usually the 

 new structure is placed within a few feet of the former one, but the old 

 materials are not used, probably on account of their pliancy having become 

 destroyed by exposure to the weather. 



The eggs vary considerably both in colour and size. Some observers 

 attempt to account for the difference in colour by the supposition that those 

 eggs of the reddish variety are the produce of the older birds, but my own 



