132 FALCONID^ : HAWKS. 



habitable regions, that its eggs were for a long time 

 special desiderata. Even in 1857, Dr. Brewer had no 

 American specimens for description. I have, therefore, 

 more pleasure in describing them, from no less than a 

 dozen examples now in the Smithsonian, where, through 

 the liberality marking the attitude of that institution 

 toward students of science, I have been able to examine 

 them. The eggs are almost spherical, the degree of 

 prolation being slight, and there being usually no 

 appreciable difference in the shape of the opposite ends. 

 Four selected specimens measure, respectively, 2.65 by 

 2.15 ; 2.90 by 2.40; 3.00 by 2.35 ; 3.10 by 2.25 — figures 

 illustrating both the difference in absolute size and the 

 variation in shape. None are so large as the one said 

 by Audubon to have been 3.50 by 2.50; but I can 

 readily believe that such dimensions are sometimes 

 reached. Among the twelve, only one is white and 

 unmarked ; this closely resembles a Bald Eagle's. The 

 rest are whitish (white, shaded just perceptibly with 

 neutral tint), variously spotted and splashed, without 

 the slightest approach to uniformity in the size, number, 

 or pattern of the markings. The color ranges from 

 "bloody-brown " or rich sienna, to bistre and umber. 

 There are many other spots, more or less obscure, and 

 all apparently below the surface, showing grayish, drab, 

 purplish, and neutral tint, by overlaying of the whitish 

 calcareous matter in different thicknesses. Most of the 

 markings are sharp-edged and distinct, but others shade 

 off gradually, while many are confluent, making irregular 

 patches. As a rule they are pretty evenly distributed, 

 but in some specimens are chiefly gathered about one 

 or the other end, where the coloration consequently 

 becomes confluent." 



