Gambel's Partridge, 

 Cabanis' Woodpecker, 



Pine Grasbeak, 



Bendire's Thrasber, 



Contour. — "The short diameter, corresponding to the calibre 

 of the oviduct, is less variable than the long axis; for when the 

 quantity of food- yelk and white upon which the difference in 

 bulk depends, varies with the vigor of the individual, the scan- 

 tiness or redundancy is expressed by the shortening or length- 

 ening of the whole mass." — Coues' Key, Page 224. If this law 

 held good would not all runt eg^s have a more nearly spherical 

 shape; and would not the short diameter be more nearly nor- 

 mal? Oologists who have handled freak eggs, doubtless recall 

 how closely many runts resembled the normal eggs in contour. 

 The same may be s-aid of the monstrocities, having a greater 

 short diameter as well as an increased long axis. 



Under head of "Descriptions of sets" (No. 79, and figured in 

 plate III) is described a set of two eggs of the Crow, one of 

 which is almost a perfect sphere, measuring 1.38x1.43 inches, — a 

 difference of .05 of an inch, which is found only by a most care- 

 ful application of the calliper. The other egg which measures 

 1.22x1.56 inches, has a short diameter slightly greater and a long 

 diameter less than the average measurement of 149 eggs, in my 

 series, which is 1.65x1.14 inches. As the capacity of the round 

 egg is greater than that of its normally shaped companion, and 

 as the capacity of either is greater than the average specimen, 

 who can advance a satisfactory explanation for the phenome- 

 non? 



A careful study of "Description of Sets" will disclose the 

 fact that a number of these abnormalities are long narrow speci- 

 mens with a compressed short diameter, and probably the best 

 example of this peculiarity is found in the set of Cardinal, No. 

 85, whose measurements are as follows: — 1.04x .68, 1.07x .67 and 

 l.llx .64 inches, while the normal average is .99x .73 inch. Oth- 

 er good examples of this character are described under Nos. 88 

 (Worm-eating Warbler,) 74, (Red-headed Woodpecker; and 

 65, (Franklin's Gull), but after all there are enough monstroci- 

 ties of typical contour to offset these. 



Time of Deposition. — The importance of this subject is seen 

 when we consider its value in relation to some theories which 

 have been advanced on the causes of abnormal eggs. Frequent 



