46 EGGS OF NOBTH AMERICAN BIBBS. 



with yellowish brown and scattering dots of umber; 1.17 -|- 

 1.57 to 1.20 -[- 1.65. Known by the size and dai'k color. Breeds 

 in Arctic regions around the globe, in June. 



284. Black Tuknstone, Arenaria melanocephala. Eggs, 

 8 or 4, oblong pyriform, olivaceous drab, profusely marbled with 

 suffused spottings and dottings; 1.15 -j- 1.58 to 1.19 -\- 1.85. 

 Breeds in Alaska. 



Family XI. — HvEMATOPODID^. Oystee-Catchers. 



Eggs, rather oval, pale in color, and boldly spotted, placed on 

 the sand by the sea-shore, but little or no nest being con- 

 structed. 



285. Oyster-catcher, Hmmatopus ostralegus. Eggs, 3 or 

 4, rather oval, yellowish ashy, spotted and blotched with ashy- 

 gray and dark brown ; 1.50 + 2.17 to 1.55 + 2.20. Extralim- 

 ital ; occurs on the sea-coast of the Eastern Hemisphere. The 

 bird is occasional in Greenland. 



286. American Oyster-catcher. Hmmatopus palliatus. 

 Eggs, 2 to 4, rather oval, creamy or white, spotted and blotched 

 irregularly with brown of vai'ying shades ; 1.50 -j- 2.15 to 1.55 -\- 

 2.25. Known from those of No. 285 by lighter color. Breeds 

 on the sea-coasts of temperate and tropical America, from New 

 Jersey and Lower California to Patagonia; also on the Bahamas. 



287. Black Oyster-catcher, Hmmatopus bachmani. Eggs, 

 3 or 4, indistinguishable in form and color from those of No. 

 286 ; 1.52 -f- 218 to 1.59 + 2.29. Breeds on the Pacific coast 

 of North America, from Cnlifoi-nia to Alaska. 



Family XII. — JACANID^. Jacanas. 



Members of this family mainly inhabit the tropics, and their 

 breeding habits appear to be but little known. 



288. Mexican Jacana, Jacana gymnostoma. Eggs, 4, 

 rounded oval, light drab, marbled with a network of lines and 

 spots of black and dark brown, about the size of those of the 



