l^)(} Letters, Extracts, (ind Notes. [Ibis, 



those of Armstrong's Sandpiper, tliere was no real evidence 

 to prove it, and the eggs were put on one side marked 

 unknown. For several years one British Trade Officer after 

 another did their best to get more eggs for me together 

 with skins of the birds themselves, but all without result, 

 though more than one confirmed tlie fact that Yellow- 

 shanks, as they named them, did sometimes breed on the 

 highest marshes, though the majority merely passed through 

 on the way to their still unknown breeding-grounds. 



At last, in March this year, I received from Mr. D. 

 Macdonald a single egg togeflier with the remains of the 

 parent bird, which had been taken on the Rhanitso Marshes 

 on 29 May, 1917. Although only the legs, wings, and a 

 portion of the back, head and beak were left and tlie whole 

 constituted only a very evil-smelling remnant, it was quite 

 sufficient for identification, and a perfectly authenticated 

 egg of Armstrong's Sandpiper had been obtained. This 

 year I have had another single e^^ sent me by the same 

 gentleman, t;d<cn at the same place on 5 June, 1918. 



With these two well-authenticated eggs in my possession 

 for comparison and the fact that there is no doubt that the 

 eggs previously received had been laid by a bird of some 

 sort with yellowish-green legs, I think we may accept them 

 as good eggs of this Tringa. 



Except that they average larger than the average Red- 

 shank's, I do not think they could possibly be discriminated 

 from those of that bird. 



The eggs measure as follows : — 



Clutch No. 1 F, taken 16. v. 1910, Rhamtso Lake, about 

 14,000 feet elevation: 476 x 33-0; 480 x 32-2; 

 47-5 X 31-4 ; 47'8 x 31-6 mm. 



Clutch No. 1 E, taken same date and place, but on lower 

 marsh, about 13,700 feet : 45-9 X 31-4 ; 46-7 X 31-9 ; 

 46-1 X 31-6; 43-2 X 31-0 mm. 



A single egg, taken same place, 3. vi. 1909 : 47*7 x 

 32-7 mm. 



