Vol. XXX vi.] S6 



I have not troubled to bring to-nigbt exhibits of this 

 nature ; but those I do produce will, I think, show the 

 difficulties under which the systematic oologist labours. 



I exhibit eggs of a number of species of Warblers 

 (Sylviidae) selected from nine genera and thirteen species. 

 Now the merest glance at this box suffices to show how 

 impossible it would be to lay down any laws which shall say 

 what is the definition of a Warbler's egg. Further than 

 this it shows not only that we cannot lay down limits for 

 the family, but that in many cases we cannot give a general 

 description even of the eggs of the genus or species. 



Amongst other eggs shown are those of Horornis, Acro- 

 cephalus, and Chatoi'nis , which may be said each to be 

 typical for the genus ; then there are other genera such as 

 Prinia, which show the most striking variations in colour ; 

 and again, Franklinia, which cannot, however, be said to be 

 a-typical, as each species of this genus lays eggs of all the 

 varieties shown, as well as many more. Then there are 

 other species in this family which lay eggs of many types 

 and colours ; and I show here two boxes which contain series 

 of eggs of two of our most common Indian birds, the 

 Tailor-bird i^Orthotomus sutorius), and the Brown Hill- 

 Warbler (^Suya crinigtra). I also exhibit three other boxes 

 to show that similar variations are to be found in other 

 families. These shown here are the eggs of two small 

 Babblers, Pyctorhis sinensis and Alcippe, and of the Broad- 

 bill, Psarisomus dalhousia. 



The next difficulty the oological systematist has to meet is 

 the frequent close resemblance between the eggs of widely 

 divided species and families. Titmice are common birds with 

 eggs of most species very much alike. I here show clutches 

 of eggs of three common forms of Titmice, and below these 

 I give clutches of six other genera which have nothing 

 whatsoever to do with the Paridae. The Rose-Finches are 

 also bii'ds which lay boldly-coloured and well-marked eggs, 

 and I exhibit a clutch of eggs of the Beautiful Rose-Finch 

 {Propasser jMlcherrimus^, with a clutch of Babblers' eggs on 

 either side of it, and I am sure you would find it hard to say 



