1919-] Letters, Extracts^ and Notes. 157 



A single egg, taken 29. v. 17, same place, and sent me 

 with skin : 46"3 x 34'] ram. 



A single og^, taken 5. vi. 18, from same place: 45"8 x 

 33-1 mm." 



In my second exhibit I show what I believe to be 

 an authentic egg of tiie Large Sand-Plover {^gialitis 

 geoffroyi). 



This egg I obtained from Colonel R. H. Rattray, who in 

 turn got it from a Captain Wilson. It was one of a clutch 

 of four eggs, three of which most unfortunately got broken ; 

 the parent bird was shot off the nest and sent with the one 

 unbroken egg to Colonel Rattray. The remains of the very 

 ragged skin were at first identified as the Small Sand-Plover 

 {^gialitis motigoHca), but the size of the wing, just under 

 6 inches, showed it to be a specimen of the Large. 



The egg is the usual jEgialitis shape and texture, though 

 perhaps less pyriform than n)0st, but in colour it is so 

 completely sui generis that it may ])rove to be somewhat 

 aberrant. The ground-colour is a pale grey stone-colour 

 with a distinct olive tinge, and the markings consist of 

 specks, irregular blotches, and scriggly marks (hardly lines) 

 of dull sandy-brown and earth-brown. Under these are a 

 few similar marks of pale lavender and neutral tint. One 

 can hardly imagine a Icns conspicuous egg if lying in its 

 nest on dirty sand. 



It measures 33*1 x 23*5 mm. 



It was taken in June, the early part of the month, close 

 to Lake Tso Morari in Ladak. 



In my third box I show another egg which I believe to be 

 unique. Tiiis is an egg of the Masked Finfoot (^/leliopais 

 personata). This egg is perhaps not altogether beyond doubt, 

 so I give its history as told me by Dr. M. Gregersou, who 

 gave it to me with the skin of tiie parent bird : — 



It was taken by Dr. Gregersou and Mr. 13. Nuttall when 

 on a shooting trip in the uninhabited, almost unknown, 

 swamps which stretch along the foot-hills of Assam and 



