Vol. xl. ] 34 
such scratches to have been made while laying loose in the 
nest. 
A further examination of Capercaillie eggs reveals the 
remarkable fact that they are not only scratched at the large 
ends but also nearly always in the same position, which 
further convinces me that this could not possibly have been 
caused by the bird standing on them. 
Out of 74 eggs I find 62 have scratches at the large 
_ ends and mostly in a longitudinal direction, this being well 
demonstrated in the four clutches which I exhibit; it will 
also be seen that some have them in a transverse direction. 
The series of Honey-Buzzard eggs exhibited present a much 
more complex problem, as they have the scratches at either 
end—the majority, however, at the slightly larger end; on 
rare occasions they may be found on the centre. I also 
exhibit one egg of the Sparrow-Hawk (Aecipiter nisus), one 
of the Razorbill (Alca torda), and one of the Puffin (Frater- 
cula artica); the Sparrow-Hawk’s egg has very deep scratches 
extending from the centre towards the large end; the Razor- 
bill’s egg has deep scratches at the eatreme small end; the 
Pufiin’s egg is not only scratched at the small end, but also 
on the side nearest that end. On this egg the scratched 
portion is also stained, and I suggest that the partly-born 
egg first rested on the ground on the side, it was then shifted 
by the bird to the extreme small end; the staining must have 
taken place while the egg remained temporarily stationary, 
i. e. in the cloaca. It would have been impossible for it to 
have stood alone unassisted on its small end sufficiently long 
to have taken up the stain ; it was then finally assisted in its 
progress, either by the claws or by dragging on a hard 
surface (possibly rock), though the exidence cee points 
to the claws having been used. 
On all these three eggs the scratches are very deep, 
especially on the Sparrow-Hawk’s and Razorbill’s eggs, and 
in every case they penetrate the outer lime-layer to such an 
extent that I think after inspection it will be agreed that 
they could only have been made by a sharp instrument and 
while held firmly as though in a vice. 
