The Eggs of Birds 46 1 



lays it we will not here concern ourselves, except to remark 

 that the largest egg in proportion to the size of the bird 

 is that of the apteryx. If we imagine a rather smallish 

 hen laying an egg 3X5 inches in size, we will get a vivid 

 idea of this bird's ability, and it lays two at a setting! 

 The smallest of all eggs is that of the hummingbird, while 

 the largest is the egg of the extinct giant j^Epyornis of 

 Madagascar, the shell of which measures 9X13 inches. 

 In some cases the fossil egg is all that is left to us to hint 

 of the existence of these great feathered creatures. Many 

 of these shells have been found buried with some old 

 native chief, the whole egg placed beside him to furnish 

 food for the long journey after death. 



Whether we look at eggs from the standpoint of an 

 artist's delight in harmonious and delicate colouring, or 

 from the wonder of their scientific composition, or even 

 from the point of view of a hungry man sitting down to 

 breakfast, we must admit that they deserve all the appre- 

 ciation which their beauty and their utility demand. 



