PACIFIC GODWIT 291 



there were but three godwit's eggs in it when first observed, the fourth egg 

 having been deposited on the following day. The entire nestful was left to 

 hatch in order to ascertain whether or not the ptarmigan would be reared by 

 the incubating godwit, but this composite set was later deserted and then 

 despoiled by jaegers. 



Eggs. — Mr. Brandt was fortunate enough to collect 20 sets of eggs 

 of this rare species, which he describes in his notes as follows : 



The egg of the Pacific godwit is subpyriform to ovate pyriform in outline with 

 the majority following the latter shape although one set is elongate ovate. The 

 shell is strong, smooth, slightly granular with somewhat of a luster, yet an 

 occasional surface is almost dull. There are two general types of ground color — 

 the greenish, that is the rule, and the brownish type that we but rarely encoun- 

 tered. "Serpentine green," dull "citrine" to "yellowish glaucous" cover the 

 range of greenish ground colors, while " snuff brown " matches the other type. 

 The surface markings are not as numerous as on most shore-birds' eggs, and in 

 consequence they are more scattered than usual. These spots are small in 

 most instances, but in a few beautiful sets they are large and, more rarely, 

 even convergent on the larger end so as to form a rich blotch. In a few rare 

 instances there were no surface markings at all, the paler underlying spots 

 being the only decoration. The primary markings are irregular to elongated 

 without a spiral tendency. In color they are " cinnamon brown," " snuff brown," 

 and " mummy brown " or " brownish olive," usually the latter if the ground 

 color is decidedly greenish. The underlying spots are not very bold, although 

 they are numerous and occasionally of considerable size. These neutral spots 

 range from " light mouse gray " or " Quaker drab " to " deep olive gray " in 

 color. Additional markings of grayish black slightly fleck some eggs while 

 they are wanting on others. In a few cases these markings assume the form 

 of pen scratches which usually encircle the larger end. The eggs, which were 

 the rarest that we took on the trip, were always four in number, except for one 

 set of three and one nest of five eggs, the only abnormally large set that I met 

 with among the Alaska species of the entire shore-bird group. 



The measurement of his 80 eggs average 55.3 by 38.2 millimeters; 

 the eggs showing the four extremes measure 60.5 by 37.7, 52.6 by 

 40.7, 50.5 by 38.2, and 54.8 by 36.1 millimeters. 



Young. — The same observer says: 



Both birds share in the duties of incubation and are very zealous in defense of 

 their treasures, especially when their pretty tawny brown chicks are first burst- 

 ing forth. We saw the first downy young on June 18 when we came upon two 

 and one hatching egg at an altitude of about 300 feet on the side of the Askinuk 

 Mountains. These sturdy babies have little to fear from their marine enemies 

 for their parents dominate the chosen domain with a vigor that no feathered 

 creature can withstand. It is very interesting to watch the agitated father or 

 mother running rapidly about, scolding, or wading in a pool of snow water, 

 every now and then raising its long wings to a vertical position above its back, 

 thus exhibiting the delicate tints of the underside, and then deliberately folding 

 them one at a time. 



Plumages. — The nestling Pacific godwit is warmly covered with 

 long, thick, soft down, the prevailing colors of which are warm 

 buff and sepia, in indistinct patterns; none of the markings are 



