10 



TINAM1D.S. 



Sub-Class CAEINAT^B. 



Order TIN A MI F O RMES. 



The eggs of the Tinamous have a firm and compact shell and are 

 extremely smooth and glossy. Of so beautiful a texture are they, 

 that the shell may be compared to polished metal or the finest 

 glazed porcelain. The colour varies in the different genera, but the 

 eggs of the birds of the same genus are generally alike. 



The shape also varies. Some examples are almost spherical ; 

 others are elliptical ; and others again, but quite a minority, are 

 biconical or oval. 



Family T1NAMID.E. 

 Sub-Family 



Genus TINAMUS, Hermann. 



The eggs of the Tinamous of this genus aj:e spheroidal and of a 

 blue colour. 



Tinanms robustus, Scl. 

 (Plate I. fig. 1.) 



Tinaraus robustus, Salvin, Ibis, 1861, p. 355 ; Salvadori, Cat. Birds B. M. 

 xxvii. p. 500 (1895) ; Sharps, Hand-l. i. p. 8 (1899). 



The eggs of the Great Mexican Tinamou vary from 2-25 to 2-35 

 in length, and from .1-87 to 2 in breadth. 



6. Guatemala. Salvin-Godman Coll. 



4. British Honduras (F. Blancaneaux). Salvin-Godman Coll. 



Tinanrus major (Gm.). 



Crypturus brasiliensis, Thien. Fortpflanz. yes. Vog. p. 23, tab. v. fig. 2 



(1845-54). 

 Tinamus major, Salvin , Ibis, 1861, p. 356 ; Salvadori, Cat. Birds B. M. 



xxvii. p. 502 (1895) ; Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 8 (1899). 



The single egg of the Great Tinamou in the Collection measures 

 2-3 by 1-9. 



I. Brazil (Brandt). Old Collection. 



