coming off altogether, no doubt from the friction of the feathers of the bird when sitting. If the weather is wet when the bird begins to sit this is much more the case. When the colour has once become thoroughly dry it will bear washing in water without injury."[1] In his most recent work Mr Dresser adds: "When blown and kept for some time, the ground colour fades to buffy white, and the spots and blotches darken in some cases to blackest brown. Those in (Mr Dresser's) collection measure from 1‧60 by 1‧14 to 1‧82 by 1‧32 inches. Mr Jourdain gives the average measurement of thirty-six eggs as 45‧56 by 31‧8 mm., and the average weight of eight eggs as 1‧845 g."[2]
There is no truth in the belief that disease will follow if the eggs are not well coloured. Very often the uncoloured part of the egg whitens at the same time as the coloured part fades or is washed off, thus making an egg of "bad colour."
It is interesting to note that a bird of five years old lays fewer eggs and of a smaller size than a bird of one or two years old.
The net yield of the nesting season greatly depends upon the weather in spring; frost before sitting, snow after hatching, heavy rain following a drought when the birds have nested in low-lying ground liable to Effect
of bad
weather on
eggs and
young submersion, are some of the principal dangers to which early broods are exposed. The eggs also may he lost by a long spell of wet weather, eggs and even up to the point of hatching. This is probably not a matter of common occurrence, but in the spring of 1906 the Committee's field observer saw nest after nest deserted owing to rain. The nests on the low ground fared worst; in some the eggs did not hatch at all, in others only one half, or even fewer, were productive.
The parent birds seem to defy the elements at all times, and during the period of incubation the hen will continue to sit upon her eggs apparently oblivious of the fact that a snowstorm is raging which has Nesting in
snow driven every other living creature off the moor. During such a storm hens are completely covered with snow as they sit upon the nest, for in hard weather instinct teaches them not to desert the post of duty. Observation of the bird at these times is difficult, for even the most enthusiastic naturalist is not often tempted to explore the higher ranges of the ground in the face of a blinding blizzard. We must to some extent form our conclusions by observation
- ↑ Dresser, "Birds of Europe," vol vii. p. 170. London: published by the author 1871-1881.
- ↑ Dresser's "Eggs of the Birds of Europe," p. 623, Pl. lxvii., Fig 1. London: published for the author at the Office of the Royal Society of Birds, 3 Hanover Square, 1906-1910.
