72 BRITISH BIRDS. [vol. vi. 



1.") instances. Out of the If), " eleven sat as soon as the first egg had 

 been laid"; in each of these cases the eggs did not hatch practically 

 simultaneously, but with as great an interval as there was between 

 the laying of the eggs. Since the paper appeared I have noted exactly 

 the same thing with another strain of pigeons. In the four cases in 

 which incubation did not commence until the second egg was laid, 

 the single egg was frequently left unattended. With regard to the 

 Moor-Hen it is certainly not unusual for this species to commence 

 incubation with the laying of the first egg ; I have noted ca.ses myself, 

 and good observers have informed me that they have had the same 

 experience. I do not think there can be much doubt that the presence 

 of the parent Grebe adds to the safety of its eggs, for the nest is usually 

 surrounded by water, and is comparatively easy to defend. Mr. 

 Bonhote states that, " the presence of the parent bird standing over 

 the eggs and thereby concealing them is vrndoubtedly true for some 

 species." It would be interesting if he would mention a few species 

 which habitually employ this method of protecting their eggs. He 

 further says that, " the cases in which incubation begins with the laying 

 of the first egg are much scarcer and must not be confused with the 

 former habit " (i.e. standing over eggs). So far from this being the 

 case, the fact is (as I indicated in my articles) that the species which 

 incubate with the laying of the first egg (Ovitegae) are very numerous ; 

 I have no doubt that further careful investigation will prove that at 

 least a third of the species in existence belong to this group. 



Eric B. Dunlop. 



THE STOMACH OF A WATER-RAIL. 



To the Editors of British Birds. 

 Sirs, — In reference to a letter on this subject in the last number 

 (p. 30), may I put forward a simple and obvious suggestion ? Was 

 not the small stomach containing food simply the nuicous membrane 

 of the stomach or gizzard which had (as often happens, especially 

 if it has become a little dry) become separated from the muscular 

 coats ? This suggestion is, I think, further strengthened by Sir John 

 MacFadyean's remark that it was " lined by mucous membrane with 

 tubular glands." No mention is made of muscle being present, the 

 absence of which one would expect if only the mucous membrane had 

 been examined. Claud B. Ticehurst. 



THE BRITISH LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. 



To the Editors of British Bird?. 



Sirs, — In Dr. Lowe's article on this subject in your last number 

 it is stated that the " difference has never been noted before." 



In his Rambles of a Naturalist (p. 231), Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., 

 wrote in 1876 of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls collected in Egypt, 

 " On comparing five adult Egyptian skins with thice Engli.'^h ones 

 it is seen that the back is darker by many shades." R. C. Banks. 



