ll().\li:S or TOLC'AxNS 



197 



riiDii, iiij /'. (,. //. 



FIG. 53. EGGS OF KED-BILLED TOUCAN 

 Natural size. 



we had found the vaguely reputed two eggs, one punctured 

 in two phiees, the other (juite perfect. 



Bhsters, rain, ant stings, tired muscles, all hecanie suh- 

 conscious. We trudged happily home, forgetful of the three 

 hours of toil in the realization of one of the chiefest of our 

 desires, ju])ilant with the thrill of having solved one of the 

 little mvsteries of the earth, a mvsterv of such sliglit moment 

 to practical humanity at large, hut so satisfying to the seeker 

 of la vcrite vraie. 



When we came to examine our treasures, we found the 

 eggs to he white or pinkish white, the tint heing that of the 

 contents showing through the shell. Thev were somewhat 

 stained hy contact with the mold and the acid moisture from 

 the decayed wood. The small end was hlunt, the general 

 shape heing that of a diminutive hen's g^^^}:,. Tlie two were 

 identical in measurement, each being 37 by 27 millimetres. 

 Thev contained living embrvos of a})out a week old. The 

 shell was without gloss and s])arsely covered with small ])its. 

 Slight but plainly visible grooves extended down the central 

 portion of the shell, irregular lines connecting many of the 

 pits. To the naked eye the lines showed as very faint color- 

 less striations, and required a close glance to detect. 



