304 Observations on the Dottrel. 



and Robinson. All these eggs were very similar with respect 

 to colour and markings, but differed a little in size and forma- 

 tion, varying from 14-| to 1-^ of an inch in length, and in 

 breadth from 1^ to 1-^, the ground colour wine yellow, va- 

 rying a little in tint, and all thickly covered with large blotch- 

 es and spots of different shades of brownish black, particu- 

 larly on the obtuse end. Hence it appears that they differ a 

 good deal from those seen and described by Dr. Heysham, 

 their ground colour being a dirty clay. The eggs of the dot- 

 trel however figured by Schinz, Thienemann and Polydore 

 Roux, also vary in this as well as in other respects ; it is 

 therefore extremely probable that the eggs of this bird are 

 subject to considerable variation. 



DESCRIPTION 



of a young dottrel, a few days old, captured alive on Ro- 

 binson, July 5th, 1835. 



Front of the head, throat, a broad space round the neck, and all the un- 

 der parts covered with a whitish down. Top of the head, occiput, and all 

 the upper parts of the body, dark brown, mixed here and there with buff- 

 orange, and whitish down. The few feathers that have made their appear- 

 ance on the breast, belly, and flanks, buff-orange, slightly spotted with 

 greyish brown ; a few feathers on the back blackish brown, edged with red- 

 dish white. Bill black. Irides very dark brown. Legs and toes pale ci- 

 nereous, slightly tinged with green. 



DESCRIPTION 



of a young female, (by dissection), three weeks or a month 

 old, killed on Robinson, July 25th, 1835. 



Forehead, throat, and sides of the face cream yellow, covered with small 

 spots and fine streaks of greyish brown. Crown of the head, occiput, and 

 also the feathers on the back, dark brown, all more or less broadly edged 

 with buff-orange. Scapulars and wing-coverts olive-green, deeply edged 

 with reddish white~ Tail the same, finely margined with white, the centre 

 feathers broadly tipped with reddish white, and the three lateral ones on 

 each side ending in a large irregular whitish spot. Sides of the neck, flanks, 

 and a broad band above each eye, buff-orange, the former finely streaked 

 with greyish brown. Breast cinereous, slightly tinged with reddish white, 

 and marked on each side with large spots of olive-green. Belly white, fine- 

 ly spotted here and there with greyish brown. Bill black. Irides dark 

 brown. Legs pale olive- green, soles, bright yellow. 



Carlisle, September, 1835 * 



* Communicated March, 1838, by the Author. — Ed. 



