474 



REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1892. 

 Oology of American Gallinte — Continued. 



Groups, species, etc. 



Cent roce reus 



Meleagris 



Dr. ( !oues. 



Ortalis vetula maecalli. 



Essentially agrees with 

 Ridgway. 



Not given.. 



Eggs generally 3, with 

 a thick, granular, antl 

 very hard shell, like a 

 guinea fowl's, oldong, 

 oval, buff-colored, or 

 creamy white, large 

 for the bird (p. 573). 



Ridgway. 



Eggs 6-15, varying from 

 pale olive buff to light 

 olive greenish, speck- 

 led, sprinkled, or spot- 

 ted with deep brown 

 (p. 205). 



Eggs 10-18 or more, light 

 butfy. thickly (but 

 sometimes indistinct- 

 ly) speckled or sprin- 

 kled with brown (p. 

 206). 

 do. 



Bendire. 



Essentially ditto 



The ground color varies 

 from palecreamy white 

 to creamy buff (p. 116). 



Do. 



COLEMli.E 



Colvmba fasciata . . . Eggs 2, equal-ended, 

 white, glistening (p. 

 565). 



Ectopistes migratoHus . Eggs 1 or 2, equal-end- 

 ed (p. 566). 



Zenaidura ! do 



Zenaida I Not given . 



For the family Colum- 

 bidce. Eggs 2, plain 

 white or buffv white 

 (p. 210). 



Engi/ptila. 



Not given . 



Melopelia Eggs 2, white or creamy 



(p. 569). 



Columbigallina, Sea *- 



dafella. 

 Geotrygon martinica. . 

 Stamcenas 



Large for size of bird; 

 - * * pointed ellip- 

 tical ovate, pure white, 

 glossy (p. 127). 



Eggs 1 or 2, elliptical 

 oval, pure white, 

 slightly glossy (p. 138). 



Eggs 1 or 2, pure white, 

 oval or elliptical oval, 

 or elliptical ovate (p. 

 142). 



Eggs 2, pure white and 

 oval, more rounded 

 than pigeons usually 

 are (p. 144). 



Eggs 2, elliptical oval, 

 cream buff, glossy 

 (p. 1451. 



Eggs 2, seldom 1 ; when 

 Fresh a rich creamy 

 tint; as incubation ad- 

 vances fades to a dull 

 dead white (p. 147). 



Eggs 2, white. 



Not known. 



Not positively known. 



As will be seen from this table, and as has long - been known, the 

 eggs of the Fowl series differ very materially from those of the Colum- 

 bine series of birds. In this connection I quote the following from Dr. 

 Sharpe: "As far as their osteology goes the sand grouse are very 

 columbine, and had they occurred in a fossil state only they Avould 

 probably have been placed in the Columba*. * * * Nest none. 

 Egos three, double-spotted, equally rounded at both ends. Nestling 

 Galline. Young clothed with down like the young of a Partridge, but 

 more variegated with white tufts." (Class of Birds, p. 09.) 



Among the Cathartidce and Raptorial birds (Aooipitres), exclusive of 

 Striges, we find a great diversity of eggs, both in the matter of form and 

 color. This seems to be especially true of the Hawks, Eagles, and their 

 allies, where not only the same species may lay very different-appearing 

 eggs, but in some cases the same individual may do likewise and variously 



