214 FREGATID^. PHaBTHOKTID^. 



Fregata minor, Legge, Birds Ceylon, p. 1203 (1880) ; Lister, P. Z. S. 

 1891, pp. 290, 300. 



The eggs of the Lesser Frigate-bird vary e.xtremely in size, the 

 largest specimen in the Collection measuring 2"63 by 1'75, the 

 smallest 2-26 by 1'5. 



1. Christmas Island, Indian Ocean Sir John Murray [P.]. 



(C. W. Andrews). 

 1. Cato Island, Australia. Gould Coll. 



5. Adele Island, N.W. Australia, 2nd The Admiralty [P.]. 



May (/. Walker). 

 1. Bampton Shoal, Avon Island, New Crowley Bequest. 



Caledonia {£. L. Layurd : Tris- 

 tram Coll.). 

 1. Maiden Islands, Pacific Ocean, Crowley Bequest. 



24th April (Campbell Coll.). 

 3. Pha;uix Island, Phoenix Ch-oup, Seehohm Coll. 



Pacific Ocean, 29th June (/. /. 



Lister) . 



Family PHAETHONTID^. 



The eggs of the Tropic-birds resemble each other in all particulars 

 except size, and it is not therefore necessary to describe those of 

 each species separatelj'. 



They are almost invariably of an oval shape, some being pointed 

 at the smaller end and some blunt at that part. A few specimens 

 are perfectly elliptical and others are occasionally spheroidal. The 

 shell is slightly rough and entirely without gloss. 



The ground varies from cream- or pinkish cream-colour to greyish 

 pink, and this is marked with various shades of reddish brown, 

 purplish red, and greyish purple. Almost every specimen is prima- 

 rily covered, very thickly, with minute dots, generally of reddish 

 brown. The larger markings, which are usually of a rich tint of 

 red or purple, vary in size and distribution. Sometimes they are 

 well-defined blotches sparingly scattered over the shell ; sometimes 

 they are smears and blotches combined, covering a considerable 

 portion of the egg and often forming a dense cap at either the large 

 or small end. Some specimens are pale, others are very dark and 

 present the same beautiful appearance as the more richly coloured 

 eggs of the Eagles and Hawks. 



Genus PHAETHOls. Linn. 



Phaethon rubricauda, Bodd. 



Phaeton phcenicurus, Thien. Fortpjlanz.ges. Vog. tab. vc. fig. 3 (1845 -54) ; 



Gould, Iliiiidb. JBirds Austr. ii. p. 501 (lb65). 

 Phaeton ajtherius, Baedeker, Eier Eur. T'og. tab. 38. fig. 5 (1855-63). 

 Phaethon rubricauda, Milne-Edwards ^- Grandidier, Hist. Nat. Madag. 



