XV CLASSIFICATION 389 



Maleo) in the sand, leaves the sun to hatch it, and, 

 apparently, takes no care of her child. 1 The Crane 

 lays her eggs upon marshland, and very soon after 

 birth her young are running about ; the common 

 Stork, which is about the same size, builds on house- 

 tops, and her young for many days are helpless. The 

 eggs of the latter measure only 2i by 2 T 1 ir inches, 

 those of the former 3| by 2f inches. The Apteryx, 

 of course, lays upon the ground, and her eggs are 

 of astounding size. The Snipe's eggs are a great 

 deal larger than the Blackbird's, though the two birds 

 are about the same weight. The Curlew's egg is three 

 times as big as that of the Raven, who equals her in 

 bulk. It is very curious that some birds, which make 

 their nests upon the narrow ledges of cliffs, in respect 

 of the size of their eggs and the early activity of 

 their young, resemble those which lay upon the level. 

 Among them are the Gulls, the Razorbills, and 

 Guillemots. Within a few hours from the time they 

 emerge from the shell, these birds are able to run 

 about, a serious danger one would have thought on 

 a narrow ledge on which they must spend many days 

 till at last they are able to fly, or in a burrow whose 

 threshold overlooks a precipice. The Partridge's eggs 

 are no larger than the Snipe's, and the nests of 

 both birds are on the ground. Probably we have 

 here an illustration of the second principle mentioned 

 above — viz., that if the number laid be large, the size 

 of the individual egg must of necessity be small. 



1 See Dr. F. H. Guillemard's Cruise of the Marchesa, p. 

 319- 



