40 BIIiDS' EGGS FROM ALDABRA ISLAND— BENDIBE. 



The type specimen No. 26191, TJ. S. National Museum collection, taken 

 November 18, 1892, measures externally 5i in diameter by 2i inches in 

 depth. Inner diameter 3 inches by 1^ in depth. 



The shell of these eggs is closely granulated, feels smooth to the 

 touch, and is without luster. The ground color is a rich cream with a 

 pinkish tint, and this is si)aringly marked with a few scattered spots of 

 cinnamon rufous and bdck-red, and one or two specimens show also a 

 few lavender dots. Themaikings, few as they are, are generally heaviest 

 about the larger end of the ^,gg. The measurements of the eggs are as 

 follows : 



No. 2G189, U. S. National Museum collection, set ^, taken December 

 4, 1892, is 1.05 by .76, 1.04 by .75, and 1.03 by .75 inches. 



No. 26190, set §, taken November 18, 1892, is 1.04 by .74, 1.03 by .74, 

 and 1.02 by .74 inches. 



No. 26191, set, |- taken on the same date, is 1.05 by .78 and 1.03 by 

 .78. In shape they vary from ovate to short ovate. 



FOUDIA ALDABRANA, Ridgway. 



This new species is rei)resented by two nests and four sets of eggs. 

 The nests, considering the size of this bird, are large and well con- 

 structed; open on the side and partially domed. They are externally 

 composed of small twigs, some witli leaves still attached, weed stems 

 and coarse grasses, and lined with finer grasses. The entrance is on 

 the side. The outer diameter of the type specimen, No. 26193, U. S. 

 National Museum collection, taken December 10, 1892, is by 7 inches, 

 inner diameter, 3 by 2f inches. This nest was placed in a mangrove. 

 The eggs of this new species are pale glaucous green in color, unspotted 

 and elongate ovate in shape. The shell is rather thin and glossy. 



No. 26192, IT. S. National Museum collection, set ^, taken November 

 27, 1892, measures .83 by .58, .82 by .59 and .79 by .58 inches. 



No. 26193, set f, taken December 10, 1892, measures .79 by .58 and 

 .75 by .59 inches. 



No. 26194, set §, taken November 13, 1892, measures .80 by .56, .81 

 by .56 and .81 by .57 inches. 



No. 26195, set I, taken December 10, 1892, measures .81 by .55 and 

 .81 by .55. 



ROUGETIUS ALDABRANUS, G nut her. 



This rail is represented by 2 nests and several probably incomplete 

 sets of eggs. Nest No. 26180, U. S. National Museum collection, the 

 type taken on December 17, 1892, is very loosely constructed of small 

 twigs and plant stems, and was placed in a dense clump of long grass 

 and scrub 18 inches from the ground. The nest measured 10 inches in 

 outer diameter by 7 inches in depth, and the cavity 4i by3f inches in 

 depth, so that only the head of the female protruded from the nest as 

 she sat upon the eggs. 



