80 TRERONID.E. 



creamy tinge. There can be little doubt, however, that the eggs of 

 all Pigeons are white when first laid, and that discoloration takes 

 place after incubation has commenced. A few instances may be 

 cited to support this conclusion. 



The eggs of Zenaida meridionalis are said by Gosse (' Birds of 

 Jamaica,' p. 307) to be of a drab colour, but the specimens taken 

 by Messrs. A. & E. Newton (Ibis, 1859, p. 253), and now in the 

 National Collection, are white. 



The eggs of (Ena capensis in the Collection are of a cream-colour, 

 but Andersson (' Birds of Damara Land/ p. 235) remarks of this 

 species that " its two white eggs have a rosy tint." 



Of the fifteen eggs of Chalcophaps indica in the Collection, nine 

 are cream-coloured, but no less than six are pure white. 



In the following descriptions, therefore, of the eggs of the 

 Pigeons, it will be understood that they are white unless the 

 contrary is stated. 



Sub-Order COLUMBJE. 



Family TRERONID^. 

 Sub-Family TRERONIN^E. 

 Genus SPHENOCERCUS, Gray. 

 Sphenocercus sphenurus 



Sphenocercus sphenurus, Oates ed. Hume, Nests fy Efjgs Ind. B. ii. 

 p. 377 (1890) ; Salvador!, Cat. Birds B. M. xxi. p. 8 (1893) ; Sharpe, 

 Hand-l i. p. 52 (1899). 



The eggs of the Wedge-tailed Green Pigeon have comparatively 

 little gloss. They measure from 1-07 to 1'25 in length, and from 

 84 to -93 in breadth. 



2. India. Gould Coll. 

 1. Gurhwal, May. Hume Coll. 



3, Mussoorie (T. Hutton). Hume Coll. 



Genus VINAGO, Guv. 

 Vinago delalandei 



Treron delalandii, Sharpens ed. Layard, Birds S. Africa, p. 558 (1875- 



84) ; Ayres, Ibis, 1885, p. 345. 

 Vinago delalandei, Salvadon, Cat. Birds B, M. xxi. p. 24 (1893) ; 



Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 52 (1899). 



The egg of Delalande's Green Pigeon in the Collection measures 

 1-18 by -96 and has but little gloss. 



1. Natal (T. Ayres). Salvin-Godman Coll. 



