CONTENTS. IX 



PAGE 



Its' Manoeuvres Devastation made by American Cow-bunt- 

 ing Imprisonment of strange Eggs Separate Lots of Eggs 

 Courage of a Moor-hen 117 



CHAPTER II. Number, Shape, Size, fyc. of Eggs. Numbers in 

 different Orders of Birds Laws of Number Cause of Variation 

 in Constancy of the Number Large Number of Eggs Thirty Eggs 

 laid by one Bird Egg-Collectors of America Variations in Size 

 Large Eggs Their purpose Immense Egg Diminutive Egg 

 Colours of Eggs Curiously marked and blotched Seat of Colour 

 Chemical Cause Family Likeness of Eggs 149 



CHAPTER III. Structure of the Egg. Contents of an Egg The 

 Shell Texture of Surface Egg of Megapodius Chalk-like Eggs 

 Exceptional Structure of Shell Painted Egg Easter Eggs 

 Remarkable Use of an Egg Structure of the Shell Chemical 

 Composition Shell-less Eggs Analysis of White and Yolk- 

 Structure of the White Its Coagulation Air Follicle The Life- 

 spot Balancing of the Yolk Anomalous Eggs Double-shelled 

 Eggs . 179 



PART III. INCUBATION. 



CHAPTER I. Incubation begun Change of Character in the Parent 

 Absorbing Nature of the Task Adventures of a Young Family 

 Maternal Love The Raven-tree Behaviour of a Fly-catcher^- 

 Attention of the Male Guardian of the Nest Both Birds Incuba- 

 ting Anecdote of an Emu A " common" Nest Changing the 

 Eggs Duration of Incubation 217 



