166 THE LIFE OF A BIRD. 



weighing the eggs filled with water in com- 

 parison with other eggs also filled with water, 

 arrived at the following results: The weight of 

 the bird itself is about twenty-four ounces, that 

 of its egg three ounces and seven drachms ; the 

 weight of the large egg just mentioned is five 

 ounces, seven drachms, and forty grains. The 

 weight of the common crow is about nineteen 

 ounces, that of its egg is only five drachms and 

 forty-nine grains. The weight of the ring-dove 

 is twenty ounces, that of its egg five drachms and 

 thirty grains. 



It appears probable that an accurate investiga- 

 tion of this subject might lead to some interest- 

 ing results; although without positive data for 

 the establishment of a general rule, from such 

 examinations as we have made, it seems to be the 

 rule, that the eggs of Raptorial birds are less in 

 proportion to the size of the parent than those of 

 the Natatorial birds ; among the latter of which, 

 the largest specimens of eggs in the zoology of 

 our own country are to be found. The remarkable 

 disproportion found in the eggs of the cuckoo, in 

 contrast with the magnitude of the parent, has 

 been already considered. In this instance, a 



