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Show 104 MR. H. E. DRESSER ON EUROPEAN BIRDS' EGGS. [Feb. 7, towards the large end, with a sort of burnt-umber brown, which some spots is almost black, and in others excessively diluted and pale. The eggs have scarcely any gloss. They vary from *68 to *7 inch in length, and from *54 to *55 in breadth. They were procured on the 24th May, 1870. Of course, after all, these eggs may not be genuine ; but there are prima facie strong grounds for believing them to be so.' " From the above it will be seen that the eggs brought to Mr. Hume were spotted, and are therefore, I should say, not genuine. " The eggs which I now exhibit are, as will be seen, pure white, unspotted, and rather glossy. In size they measure L§ inch in length, by Y9-J in width, and are almost pear-shaped, falling to a blunt point at the smaller end. " These eggs were collected in Darasim, Dauria, by Dr. Dybowsky, and sent along with the birds, which were marked Phyllopneuste coronata ; but on comparing them with specimens of Reguloides superciliosus from Siberia and India, I find them to belong to the latter species. I beg leave to offer for comparison one of the skins sent by Dr. Dybowsky and a specimen of R. superciliosus received from Mr. Brooks of Etawah, North-western India. "TURDUS FUSCATUS. " These four eggs form a complete sitting, and were also collected by Dr. Dybowsky at Darasim in Dauria, together with several others which I also have in my possession, but which do not differ materially from these. I do not know of any collection in England in which the eggs of this Thrush are to be found; and as it is an occasional straggler to Europe, I believe that collectors here present may be interested in examining these. As will be seen, they are in appearance not unlike some varieties of the eggs of the common Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris), but are rather smaller in size, increasing from ^ to l-X inch in length, by from £# to £i in width, the groundcolour being bright blue, and the spots with which they are covered dark red. " RUTICILLA AUROREA. " One single specimen of the egg, together with about a dozen skins, of this bird were sent over by Dr. Dybowsky from Dauria. This specimen, which I now produce, measures f$ inch in length, by f i in width, and in colour is very pale blue, minutely covered with pale red markings, which are collected round the larger end, forming an irregular zone. " MOTACILLA CITREOLA. "Amongst the eggs and skins sent over by Dr. Dybowsky from Darasim were several of this bird; and I have the pleasure of exhibiting six (a complete sitting) of the eggs. In size and colour they resemble the eggs of the Grey Wagtail (Motacilla boarula) so much that they can scarcely be distinguished from some eggs of this latter bird." |