266 



color is dark burut-sienua, approacbing to umber-brown. " Chocolate," 

 " mabogany," " chestnut," are all more familiar terms, which might be 

 used to suggest the color. The markings are all superficial — none ap- 

 pear to be overlaid by shell-substance. 



In shape, these eggs are very perfectly ovoidal, without notable point- 

 edness at the smaller end or special flatness at the other ; the greatest 

 diameter being nearly across the middle. Three of the specimens measure 

 as follows (the fourth being defective at the point) : ^o. 1, 1.70 x 1.15; 

 No. 2, 1.70 X 1.14; No. 3, 1.68 x 1.11 (inches and decimals). 



The shell is smooth to the touch. Seen under a strong lens (Tolles's 

 i-inch triplet), the surface resembles polished marble, consisting of irreg- 

 ularly-shaped, smooth-edged prominences, betwixt which are innumer- 

 able small circular pits or pores. 



