Vol. xxxvii.] 12 



Mr. Borrer's eggs belonging to this form helped considerably 

 ill their identification, 



Mr. Bunyard also exhibited a series of eggs of the Stone- 

 Curlew {(Edicnemus cedicnemus) for comparison with those 

 of the Nightjar, and called attention to the similarity 

 existing between the two species in regard to the variation 

 and arrangement of markings. 



The Rev. F. C. E,. Jourdain suggested that the four eggs 

 of Caprimulgus might be two clutches, laid by the same bird 

 after an interval. He had known of eight and six Wood- 

 cocks' eggs in two nests and also fourteen eggs in oiie 

 nest of the Nuthatch, and in each case internal evidence 

 showed that the first-laid clutch had been affected by frost 

 and that the hen had laid again in the same nest. 



Mr. W. Rowan considered that the four eggs of the 

 Nightjar were the product of the same female, arguing 

 from an embryological standpoint. He pointed out that 

 amongst mammals it frequently happened that one or two 

 extra ova above the normal number were shed from the 

 ovary and fertilized_, and that, as far as he knew, there was 

 no reason why the ovaries of birds should not be subject to 

 the same phenomenon. 



Mr. Robert H. Read exhibited a fine series of Chaffinches' 

 eggs. The central set consisted of eight eggs from an 

 orchard in Kent, although the nest contained nine when 

 Mr. Read found it. The first two eggs had been laid and 

 then buried by a further lining of the nest. Then three 

 more had been laid and the nest deserted for some time, as 

 all these five eggs were quite stale. Then four more eggs 

 were laid, which were quite fresh when found. All nine 

 eggs were evidently laid by the same bird. Among the 

 others were the only two sets of six ever found by the 

 exhibitor, a very handsome, heavily blotched set found by 

 him near London, a set of small eggs taken by him in 



