174 



Fratercula corniculata (Naum.). 



Fratercula corniculata, Baird, Brewer fy Ridgw. Water Birds N. Am. ii. 

 p. 529 (1884) ; Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxvi. p. 620 (1898) ; Sharpe, 

 Hand-l i. p. 133 (1899). 



The two eggs of the Horned Puffin in the Collection resemble 

 many of the eggs of F. arctica, but are larger. They are sparingly 

 blotched with very pale purple and they have, in addition, a 

 few yellowish -"brown lines and veins. They measure respectively 

 2-8 by 1-91; 2-66 by 1-75. 



1. Toporkoif Island, Bering Sea, 12th G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, 



July. Esq. [P.]. 



1. Copper Island, Bering Sea. G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, 



Esq. [P.]. 



Order LARIFORMES. 



The identification of the eggs of the Terns, Gulls and Skuas 

 presents great difficulties, and they should always be particularly 

 well authenticated at the time they are taken from the nest. 



The eggs of the Lariformes are usually of a regular oval form, but 

 numerous specimens depart from this, and are spheroidal, pyriform 

 or elliptical. The shell is slightly rough and seldom exhibits any 

 gloss. The markings are invariably of two kinds : the surface- 

 markings, which are usually of some shade of brown or occa- 

 sionally black ; and the shell-markings underlying the others, 

 which are usually of a pale purple colour. 



The eggs of the Lariformes in some instances resemble those of 

 some species of the RaUiformes, and in others those of many species 

 of the Char adrii formes. 



Family LARID^E. 



Sub-Family STEB.NIN.E. 



Genus HYDROCHELIDON, Boie. 



Hydrochelidon leucoptera (Meisn. $ Schinz). 



Sterna leucgptera, Thien. Fortpflanz. yes. Vog. tab. Ixxxv. fig. 4, a-f 

 (1845-54) ; Seebohm, Brit. Birds, iii. p. 257, pi. 49 (1885) ; id. Eggs 

 of Brit. Birds, p. 98, pi. 29. figs. 4, 6 (1896). 



Hydrochelidon leucoptera, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 32. fig. 2 

 (1855-63) ; Dresser, Birds Eur. viii. p. 321 (1875) ; Legge, Birds 

 Ceyl p. 1000 (1880) ; Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 6 (1896); 

 Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 133 (1899). 



The eggs of the White-winged Black Tern cannot be separated 



