THE EGGSHELL OF UPUPA EPOPS L. 



united like a veil and covers the whole surface of the shell, 

 and in other instances is more or less disintegrated and forms 

 a larger or smaller number of spots or flecks of a greyish white 

 colour; 



5. that one of the fundamental lime layers is coloured bluish green 

 (contains oocyanine), in consequence of which all epops-eggs, 

 whatever their external colouring may be, show up pale sea- 

 green when light shines through them; 



6. that the texture of the shell of the epops-egg is closely allied 

 to that of Picinae-eggs, which fact becomes clearly perceptible 

 when the „veil" as well as the pigment layer of an epops-egg, 

 and — for the sake of a correct comparison — the glutinous 

 layer of a Picinae-egg which gives the gloss to the shell, have 

 been removed; only when this has been done it is possible to 

 judge and compare the true nature of the texture; the strong 

 gloss of Picinae-eggs, for instance, has no connection with the 

 texture of the shell, and is caused by the nature and quantity 

 of gluten which is spread over the uppermost lime layer, and 

 by which in the case of epops-eggs, as well as in that of 

 other coloured eggshells, the pigment is adhered; 



7. that some epops-eggs exhibit the longitudinal grooves which 

 are so especially typical of Dendrocopus major. 



The characteristic feature of epops-eggs consists therefore really 

 in the „veil" layer (mentioned above under 4) which is usually 

 spread over it, and which as an exception, is also finally deposited on the 

 completely pigmented surface of the shell of eggs of other species 

 of birds of various Families (very frequently on eggs of Totanus 

 totanus, and often much more closely than on those of epops). 



