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 194 THE CONDOR Vol. XV being absent. The surface markings also do not show the same range of color, being chiefly chocolate-brown and brownish-black, while the patterns of the mark- ings from minute specks all over the egg to great blotches are equally as variable as in the other two species. On many of the eggs of P. fulicarius and P. hy#er- boreus, specks and blotches of violet gray are to be found, more especially on those with the stone-colored and light-olive grounds. The bigger blotches on the eggs of all the three species are generally to be found on the large end and .some- times cover the whole of it. The eggs of P. [ulicarius and P. hyperboreus have little or no gloss, while the eggs of ?. tricolor are distinctly glossy. I think Dr. Coues is mistaken in saying that the eggs of P. [uliqarius cannot be distinguished from those of P. hyperboreus. It is true that small eggs of P. [ulicarius cannot be distinguished from large eggs of P. hyperboreus, but in a large series such as I have before me (x9 sets or 7 6 eggs of the former and 5 sets or 2oo eggs of th'2 latter) the difference is easily seen. Measurements: P. tricolor, .3 x -9 in.; -P. [ulicarius, .25 x .85; P. hyperboreus, .5 x .82 in. Number of egg, 4. Eggs pyriform in shape. Recurvirostridae. I am not able to give any description of the American forms of Stilt and Avocet, but judging from Dr. Shufeldt's figures they must very closely' resemble the European forms both in size and color and markings, but would hardly fit in with Dr. Coues' description. The eggs of Himantopus avocetta are distinctly larger than those of Himantopus melanopterus, and while the markings are very similar on the eggs of both species, and in many cases the ground color also, the eggs of H. avocetta appear in a series to have a richer, warmer appearance. Measurements: H. crvocetta, 2 x I-5 in.; H. melanopterus, .7 x .25. Number of eggs nearly alvays 4 in H. avocetta, and 3 to 4 in H. melanopterus. The eggs of both species have little or no gloss. They are pyriform in shape. Sc010pax rustic01a. European Woodcock. Very few authors seem to have paid sufficient attention to the eggs of this species, probably from insufficient material. Swann's description as given by Dr. Shufe!dt, "pale buff, blotched,"etc., is a poor and meagre description of these beautiful eggs. The ground color ranges from the palest cream (nearly white) through deeper cream to pale buff, yellow-buff and the deepest brown-buff (many of the eggs of this latter type having a distinct pink tone), speckled and spotted and blotched with yellow-brown, dark brown and purplish gray. As a rule the eggs in the same set are fairly uniform in the pattern of the markings; but oc- casionally you get a set with one egg much more .marked than the other three, and in many cases you find two distinct shades of ground color in the same set. The number of eggs is invariably 4. Measurements: x.75 x x.3 in. The eggs possess a fair amount of gloss, and are rounded ovate in shape. Sc010pax (or Oallinag0) gallinag0. European Snipe. In ground color the eggs of this species show a greater var_ation than in any other of the Limicolae, and the series I have before me now (5 sets or 2oo eggs) certainly baSes description. $wann's description, for a general one, is very mis- leading if not altogether wrong; and I have certainly never seen an egg of the snipe "pale yellowish with an olive tinge". Here you have the various shades of stone color, pale buff and deep buff, all shades of brown, from the very palest to the rich red (so highly prized by collectors), a deep chocolate, a beautiful pale green (very fugitive), similar to some eggs of the Dunlin and Wood Sandpiper, pale olives and dark olives, a very dark green, and a very light dove gray. The markings are very variable, spots, bletches and irregular thin streaks (chiefly at