NON-INDIGENOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 257 



They are pyriform in shape, olive-green of various shades 

 in ground colour, spotted and blotched with darker 

 brown, and with underlying markings of gray. In Mr. 

 Secbohm's collection there are two eggs presumed to be 

 of this species, which are very boldly marked, one 

 specimen being also streaked with very dark brown on 

 the larger end. Average measurement, 2'2 inches in 

 length, by i"45 inch in breadth. The duration of the 

 period of incubation is unknown, as is also which parent 

 performs the task. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of this God wit 

 cannot be distinguished from those of the Black-tailed 

 Godwit. But very few genuine eggs of this bird are 

 known in collections, and the student is warned against 

 possible and easy fraud. The breeding area of the two 

 species, however, is distinct. It may also be remarked 

 that the eggs of this and the preceding species some- 

 what closely resemble those of Buffon's Skua — an 

 additional reason for their careful identification. 



Family CHARADRIID.^. Genus Ereunetes. 



Sub-family TOTANINA\. 



RED-BREASTED SNIPE. 



Ereunetes griseus {Gmeliii). 

 (British : Rare abnormal autumn migrant.) 

 Single Brooded. Laying season, June. 



Breeding area : North central Nearctic region. 

 The Red-breasted Snipe breeds throughout the Arctic 

 regions of North America from the Rocky Mountains 

 in the west, to Baffin Bay in the east, south to Hudson 

 Bay, and probably the Great Lakes, in about lat. 44°. 



