ilXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. 0/ 



circumference of the cap is ragged, and breaks off into irregular 

 fragments, which become smaller and less numerous as they ap- 

 proach the small end, which has few spots. 

 Fig. 5. Pyriform Egg of Peewit, Vanellus cristatus^ Meyer and Wolf, 

 showing a partial cap of dark spots at the large end and a narrow 

 dark band across the widest part of the egg. The large end is 

 more spotted and darker than the small end, which has a great deal 

 of shade over it. 



PLATE II. 



Fig. 1. Almost globular Egg of Honey Buzzard, Perms apivorus, Linn., 

 showing a dark cap on small end, the coloration diminishing to- 

 wards the large end. 



Fig. 2. Pyriform Egg of Sandwich Tern, Sterna Cantiaca^ Gmelin, showing 

 an irregular ring of dark colour, enclosing the apex of the large 

 end, and situated at nearly the widest part of the egg. 



Fig. 3. Bluntly oval Egg of Osprey, Pandion halicetiis, Linn., the small 

 end of which presents a partial cap of dark colour joined to an 

 imperfect ring, the large end showing only a very few small spots. 



PLATE III. 



Figs. 1 and 2. Elongated pyriform Eggs of Common Guillemot, Uria 

 troile, Linn., both much coloured. No. 1 has a clear apex of the 

 large end enclosed by a broadish band of colour ; the small end is 

 strongly marked with spots, forming an incomplete cap, and there 

 is an intermediate band of coloured spots and stripes between the 

 broadest part of the egg and the small end, so that three zones of 

 colour are seen. No. 2 shows the irregularly curved lines of colour 

 and spots noticed in the text ; the large end is almost completely 

 capped by them, and they form a zone round the egg between the 

 widest part and the small apex. 



PLATE IV. 



Fig. 1. Elongated oval Egg of Crane, Grus ciiierea, Bcchstcin, exhibiting 

 spots and streaks running longitudinally from one apex to the 

 other. 



Fig. 2. Broadly-pyriform Egg of Sandwich Tern, Sterna Cantiaca, Gmelin, 

 with broad streaks and blotches extending obliquely from right to 

 left. 



Fig. 3. Pyriform Egg of Common Snipe, Gallinago Sco/ojiaciinu^, Bp., 

 showing oblique niarkiug from right to left. 



