purple, and these latter, which arc most commonly streaks and
clouds, seem to underlie the others. Different eggs vary much
in the distribution, size, and intensity of these markings, as also
in the relative proportion of the extent of surface covered respectively
with what I may call the primary and secondary
markings ; in some almost the whole ground colour not occupied
by the primary markings is clouded with the pale inky purple,
in others only here and there a few spots of this colour are traceable
; in some all the markings are small, very thickly set and
frcckly, in others they are bold, large, eccentrically-shaped
blotches, comparatively thinly distributed over the surface. Some
of the eggs are, as a whole, very much darker-coloured than
others, and in some the ground colour might perhaps be best
described as a faintly greenish-grey. As a rule, the paler the
ground the paler the markings, and vice vend. Exceptionally
beautifully marbled eggs are met with, as also unmottled pale
creamy varieties. I have never, however, seen one that could be
mistaken for an egg of fasciatns.
The eggs vary in length from 1/32 to r6, and in breadth from
0'95 to I'LL ; but the average of seventy eggs is 1-45 by I'03.
IN THIS species the males average rather larger and heavier,
and have decidedly longer tails. The following is a re'sume' of
many measurements recorded in the flesh :—
ilalcs.—Length, 1175 to 1375 ; expanse, 2 r i 3 to 22'5 ; wing,
67 to 7'5 ; tail from vent, 4'38 to 5-87 ; tarsus, 09 to I ' o ; bill
from gape, 0'62 to 07. Weight, 8 to nearly 10 ozs.
Females.—Length, n o to I2'25 ; expanse, 20'9 to 215 ; wing,
6-6 to 6'9 ; tail from vent, 4-0 to 4-8 ; tarsus, 0'8 to 0^85 ; bill
from gape, 0'6 to C 6 7 . Weight, 7-5 to 8-3 ozs.
The feet and bill vary from pale slaty grey to pale plumbeous,
or lavender blue; the irides are dark brown, and the
orbital skin pale lemon yellow to pale yellowish green.
THE PLATE conveys a tolerable idea of the species, though
the colouring of the back of the male is defective, and the
whole picture of the female is vague and sketchy and too
little of an exact portrait.