Vol. x14 36 
5. The impossibility of the scratches being made unless 
the egg is held firmly. 
6. The depth of the scratches, especially on the Sparrow- 
Hawk, Razorbill, and Puffin’s eggs, which point to a 
sharp instrument, 7. e. the claws. 
7. On some eggs the scratched portion appears to have 
been gone over several times in the same direction ; 
Bea must ther crote have been held in one position. 
I do not think it ould be impossible for the bird to 
reach the partly exuded egg with its claws, if it is considered 
to be an impossible contortionist feat, then the first suggestion 
(2. e. the dragging on some surface of the partly exuded egg) 
is probably the correct theory; or it may possibly be attri- 
buted to both causes, as the evidence of the eggs certainly 
suggests. 
Abrasions are caused by the blistering and flaking off of 
‘the pigment, which is sometimes laid on so thickly that the 
heat from the bird or possibly the sun causes it to blister and 
flake off, leaving the ground-colour of the eggs exposed, or 
sometimes taking away minute particles of the shell and 
leaving fairly deep pittings. Guillemot’s eggs, especially 
the green or blue forms which I exhibit, are very subject to 
this class of abrasions, while eggs of certain Raptores 
exhibit a similar characteristic, but in a lesser degree. On 
the eggs of the Hobby (falco subbuteo) minute heavily pig- 
eientea specks with the pigment flaked off the centre is 
characteristic of the eggs of this species, and it is very 
constant and may safely be used in identification. Kestrel’s 
eggs rarely have these specks, which must not be confused 
with the polished heads of nodules, which are also present. 
On one of the Guillemot’s eggs exhibited, it will be seen 
that the pigment on some of the markings has all flaked off 
except at the extreme edge, giving them a rimmed or 
spectacled appearance. I also exhibit an egg of the Black- 
browed Albatross, Diomedia melanophrys, with similar 
abrasions. 
