a CHAPTER II. 
Any one who is conversant with Yarrell’s admirable ‘ British 
Birds,” will most likely have noticed that that author gives 
in almost every case very precise measurements of the eggs 
of each particular species of Bird described. And it might, at 
first sight, seem to be so necessary to give such measurements 
that one would very likely feel half inclined to pronounce a Book 
of Birds’ Eggs very imperfect, which omitted all notice of 
dimensions. But the fact is, such measurements are, in so very 
many different instances, altogether fallacious and likely to 
mislead. Thus Mr. Yarrell’s measurements of the Blackbird’s 
ege are, “the length one inch, two lines; the breadth ten lines.” 
That is no doubt a good average or approximate measurement, 
but I have Blackbirds’ eggs before me which vary between half 
a line, or 3, of an inch, less, and a line, or py of an inch, more 
in length, and between half a line, more or less, in breadth. Again, 
I have two Starlings’ egos on my table, both taken from the same 
Pigeon-cote, in Essex; one of which is 1,2, inch long by 48 inch 
broad; the other 1,8; inch long, and 38 inch broad; while to the 
eye the latter is not much more than half as large as the 
former. Moreover, Mr. Yarrell’s measurements for this bird’s 
eggs are precisely the same as for those of the Blackbird, and not 
only not tallying with those of either of my eggs, but not even 
presenting a near approach to the medium dimensions. 
Great numbers of similar instances might be adduced, and 
