THE EGGSHELL OF UPUPA EPOPS L. 

 (Plate 93). 



My own examination of the epops-eggsheU gave the following 

 results which deviate on certain points from what others have 

 written on the subject l ): 



1. that the lime layer, situated immediately below the glutinous 

 pigment layer, is always coloured white (not sometimes yellow), 

 irrespective of the colour or variegation of the pigment; 



2. that — as is the case with every species of egg — pores occur 

 in the lime layers, showing a great resemblance in character 

 as well as in number and arrangement to those of Picinae-eggs ; 



3. that the inner wall of the mouth of the pores is white, notwith- 

 standing the pigment spread over the uppermost lime layer, 

 which circumstance is caused by the carbonate of lime which is 

 finally deposited over the pigment layer and is absorbed by 

 that inner wall ; 



4. that the extremely thin layer of carbonate of lime mentioned 

 above under 3, which is absent occasionally, is sometimes 



J ) See: Naumann (new ed.), Band IV, p. 386; Dr. E. Rey, Die Eier der 

 Vogel Mitteleuropas, p. 90; Thienemann (1845— '54), I.e., p. 111. 



