37 [Vol. xix. 



''The Solitary Sandpiper generally lays four eggs, utilizing 

 a nest of the American ' Robin/ Canada Jay, Cedar- Waxwing, 

 or some other bird. The 'muskegs^ of N.W. Canada 

 (Alberta), where these birds breed, consist of swampy woods. 

 About 1 foot or 18 inches below the surface is solid ice, which 

 does not melt till the middle of June or later^ when the 

 swamps become impassable. 



" The Solitary Sandpiper invariably selects for breeding- 

 purposes a tree containing a nest with an open outlook, and 

 always situated on the outskirts of the forest, so that it can 

 easily fly off" when approached.''^ 



Major Proctor also exhibited some rare eggs from 

 N. America. These were all well authenticated, and com- 

 prised : — 



1. A set of four Yellowshanks (Totanus flavlpes) from 

 N. Alberta. 



2. A set of four Bonaparte's Sandpiper (Tringa fascicoris) 

 from Herschell Island, Arctic America, taken by the present 

 Bishop of Selkirk. 



3. One egg of Baird's Sandpiper (Trm^a bairdi), taken by 

 the Mcllhenny Expedition at Point Barrow, Alaska, in 

 1898. 



4. A set of four egg^ of the American Stint ( Tringa 

 minutilld) from the same Expedition. 



The Rev. F. C. R. Jourdain exhibited an egg of (Estrelata 

 fece, and made the following remarks : — 



" In the ' Ibis,' 1900, p. 298, Count Salvador! pointed out 

 that the Petrel which inhabits the Cape Verde Islands and 

 Madeira was specifically distinct from (Estrelata mollis 

 (Gould), and he described it under the name of (E.fece. 



" Fifteen years ago, an egg of this bird on the point of 

 hatching was obtained in Madeira, but was subsequently 

 broken. In 1905 Padre Schmitz obtained a forsaken egg 

 (here exhibited) and a young bird about 5 or 6 weeks old from 

 a small colony breeding in holes in the ground at an elevation 

 of about 3000 ft. above the sea. During the past season he 



