Families CHARADRIIDAE 

 and SCOLOPACIDAE. 



(Plates 135-159). 



A comparative consideration nf the nature of the markings of the 

 eggs of Charadriidac and Scolopacidac, breeding in this country, has 

 led me to make the following remarks. 



The fact that, in the literature on the subject, the egg of Vancllns 

 vanellus has always served as a comparative object in describing 

 the eggs of the other Charadriidac or of Scolopacidac — a practice 

 that owes its origin solely to the ,, popularity" oHhc vanclliis-egg — 

 has not failed to give rise occasionally to inaccurate notions and 

 descriptions. 



Hacmatopiis ostralcgus, Acgialitcs hiaticiila and Acg. alcxandriinis 

 are distinguished from the average vancllus-type (medium sized, 

 rather thickly set, shaded and confluent spots) by sharply outlined, 

 non-confluent, often fairly sparsely set spots, with which, of the 

 Scolopacidac, Rccurvirostra avosetta associates closely oologically. 



Acg. dubiiis, compared with hiaticula and alcxandrinus, is usually 

 characterized by minute spots which frequently are not more than 

 stipples, and on this account its eggs deviate still further from the 

 said vanellus-type than do those of the last mentioned two species. 



In the eggs of Charadrius apricarius the markings are often 



