186 



THE OOLOGIST 



MEXICAN JACANA 



(Jacana spinosa) 



Since becoming acquainted with 

 The Oologist several years ago, I 

 have read with much interest from 

 time to time of the various rare 

 species and their nests and eggs that 

 were collected and described from all 

 parts of the country, but I have failed 

 to find any notes whatever pertaining 

 to this odd and very interesting bird, 

 and I am herewith enclosing a photo 

 of two sets of eggs that are in my 

 cabinet. 



In describing these sets I will state 

 that although they were taken many 

 years ago I do not believe the color 

 has faded to any great extent. 



Set One, four eggs: Three eggs of 

 this set are about uniform in shape 

 but the fourth is slightly more blunt 

 and not running to quite as much 

 point as the others. The shell of all 

 four has a high gloss presumably from 

 the fact that incubation was well ad- 

 vanced. The ground color in all is a 

 beautiful yellowish olive, and over this 

 is a network of very dark umber and 

 black lines intertwining and running 

 haphazard all over the surface. 



They form blotches on the big end 

 of two of the eggs and almost con- 

 ceal the ground color. If the mark- 

 ing from about ten eggs of the Balti- 

 more Oriole were transfered on to one 

 of the Jacana it would have about the 

 same appearance. There are also 

 fainter shell markings in the form of 

 small spots and blotches of warm 

 brown and lavender. This set was 

 collected by Mr. C. W- Crandall on 

 the northern coast of South America, 

 June 14th, 1898. Incubation was ad- 

 vanced. Nest was composed of 

 twigs and aquatic plants on leaf of 

 Victoria regia plant in swamp. 



Set Two, four eggs: Two eggs of 

 this set are about uniform in size but 

 the remaining two are larger and 



smaller respectively. The largest one 

 has a tendency to run more to a point 

 at the big end while the smallest egg 

 is considerably more narrow than the 

 others. The ground tint in this set is 

 more dull and subdued and the shell 

 has none of the luster as is noted in 

 set one as incubation was fresh. The 

 scrawls and lines are also much finer 

 and are blended with the lighter shell 

 markings so as to not appear so clean 

 cut and distinct. The smallest egg is 

 more densely marked around the cen- 

 ter and one would think an insect's 

 feet had been dipped in pigment and 

 then allowed to run around continual- 

 ly until the color was consumed on 

 the shell. This set was collected for 

 Frank B. Armstrong at Tampico, 

 Mexico, May 4th, 1900. Incubation 

 was fresh. Nest was composed of 

 floating trash collected together under 

 curled lily leaf on fresh water pond 

 near town. 



I am hoping that collectors who are 

 familiar with this specie will come to 

 the front and let us become better ac- 

 quainted with its habits. 



Harold E. Meyers. 



Medina, N- Y. 



AGE AND EXERCISE 



Rutheven Deane, one of Patriarchs 

 of ornithology writes: 



"I spent two months on the Maine 

 coast, got a lot of exercise observing 

 birds, motoring, photographing and 

 played sixty games of golf, which 

 meant, a tramp of 275 miles. After my 

 return (to Chicago) I have had to re- 

 trace my steps to Cambridge to attend 

 our annual A. O. U. which was a grand 

 success and well attended." 



This we regard as a fair record for 

 a man seventy-two years of age. 



R. M. Barnes. 



