DETAILED LIST OF BIRDS. 
213 
scarcely deserves to be classed as a true Ruticilla; indeed, 
in its habits it more closely approaches the Fork-tails, 
especially Henicurus scouleri, in whose company it is more 
commonly found than any of the Redstarts, and its eggs 
are not unlike, so far as coloration is concerned, many 
varieties of those of Motacilla madraspatana. As regards 
character and colour of markings, Mr. Hewitson's figure of 
the egg of Calandrella brachydactyla, and even as to shape 
(though those of the present species are considerably 
smaller), faithfully represents the most typical form of the 
Plumbeous Water- Robin^s eggs. More or less broad ovals 
in shape, somewhat pointed or compressed toward the 
smaller end, the faintly greenish white ground is almost 
entirely obscured in most specimens by a dense mottling ' 
and freckling of somewhat pale and dingy yellowish or 
reddish brown. Except for the faint tinge of green in the 
small amount of ground colour that appears, some of these 
are very similar to those of several species of our Indian 
Larks ; unless, indeed, a somewhat greater fineness of 
texture and glossiness of surface help to separate them. 
To say nothing of my own collectors, who, although 
natives, are very reliable men. Captain Cock is a most 
careful observer, and I entertain no doubt that these eggs, 
abnormal as they may appear for a Redstart, are yet truly 
the eggs of the present species. I may add that the 
colouring of these eggs somewhat recalls that of those of 
the Sub-alpine and Sardinian Warblers, as figured by Dr. 
Bree. In some eggs the markings are much redder, and 
these eggs of course approach nearer to those of the 
common Robin. They are, however, always browner, more 
dingy, and smaller than the eggs of this latter bird. The 
markings have a strong tendency to become confluent at 
the large end, where they are always most dense, and often 
exhibit a strongly marked, but mottled and irregular cap. 
The eggs vary from 0 7 to 0 8 in length, and from 0*56 to 
0-64 in breadth. [A, 0. H.] 
