66 Mr. E. Gibson on the Ornithology of [ibis, 



Tlie ground-colour is generall}^ pale yellow or buff (on rare 

 occasions bluish white), and this is densely spotted and 

 blotched with black. As a rule these markings are evenly 

 distributed^ but soraetinies they increase towards the blunt 

 end ur occasionally girdle the middle of the egg. Hudson 

 mentions how, in many cases, the markings are so dominant 

 as to submerge the ground-colour and give the egg a totally 

 black colour. 



The average general measurement is 35 x 24 mm., the 

 largest clutch being 37 x 24 mm., and the smallest 

 33 X 24 mm. 



399. Tringa maculata Yieill, Pectoral Sandpiper. 



We now come to the Sandpiper family, regarding which 

 I have the same complaint to make as in connection with 

 the Teals and the Coots, the difficulty of separating and 

 identifying similar species, amidst Acry large numbers. 

 Who that has formed any conception of the extent of our 

 enormous mud-flats at certain seasons of the year, and the 

 variet)'^ of salt laguna and freshwater shores, can have failed 

 to realise the mental confusion and bewilderment produced 

 by the contemplation of myriads of the small and restless 

 Scolopacidse ? They are all coming and going, flying and 

 feeding, in continual movement and change, like the endless 

 variations of a kaleidoscope. And should the observer 

 endeavour to close-in somewhat in the hope of individualising 

 any of the more uncommon species, the result is only to put 

 up the whole gathering, still more indistinguishable on the 

 wing. The fact that all these species are but visitors from 

 the Arctic tends to increase the difficulty, there is none of 

 the familiar acquaintance produced by resident or breeding- 

 birds. I'he observer has but painfully grasped the advent of 

 a certain species before it is gone again, and he is inclined 

 to doubt his own notes and deductions. It is a consolation 

 to me that even Hudson does notfliid much to say in certain 

 cases, and is curt in consequence. 



Both Claude Grant and I chronicle the Pectoral Sand- 

 piper in the Ajo district between the dates of 11 September 



