Gough, Kerguelen, and South Georgia Islands. 



439 



Again I must differ with the above mentioned gentlemen who 

 (1. c), say, "There are no markings beneath the superficial calcare- 

 ous layer, and the spots which appear on this seem to be adventitious 

 stains from the secretions of the oviduct, or accidental soiling after 

 extrusion. Some specimens show a reddish stain upon the larger 

 end, probably dried blood, since it is readily washed off." While 

 this description may, and probably does, correctly describe the eggs 

 procured by Dr. Kidder at Kerguelen, it does not agree with those 

 procured by Mr. Comer at Gough Island and South Georgia. 



In our series, the markings, from their arrangement and general 

 appearance, are certainly not adventitious stains or accidental soiling, 

 nor will they wash off, and on holding the shell to the light, in most 

 cases, even with eggs which appear nearly pure white on the surface, 

 there will be seen a number of spots, varying in size like the surface 

 markings and apparently of the same color, but in the shell itself 

 and not showing on the surface. A few of the eggs seem pure 

 white to the naked eye but, under the lens, show minute specks of 

 color distributed everywhere. Others are so thickly specked as to 

 give a dusky appearance to the whole Qgg. Two have irregular 

 streaks (after the manner of a blackbird), over the whole Qgg^ 

 thickest about the larger end, of a lighter tint of the same reddish 

 brown, but which is much less superficial and does not scale off. 



The following table shows the principal variations in size and 

 shape : 



Locality. 



Measurements. 



Ratio of long 

 to short axis. 



Remarks. 



South Georgia 



5-50 X 3-24 



1 to 



•589 



Largest, capacity 470«<=. 



u 



5-32 X 3-26 



1 to 



-613 



Broadest. 



u 



5-18 X 3-20 



1 to 



-618 





(( 



5 29x3-24 







Capacity 450". 



u 



5-12 x3-06 







Smallest. 



(( 



(5-28 X 3-20) 



1 to 



-6061 



Average of above 5 eggs, capacity 440'*. 



Gough Island 



515 X 3-24 



1 to 



•629 



Largest and broadest, capacity 435'="'. 



u 



4-Ux2-85 



1 to 



•601 



Smallest, capacity 315". 



(( 



5-67 X 2-85 



1 to 



•503 



Most elongate and longest. 



{( 



4-62 x319 



1 to 



•690 



Shortest. 



u 



4-82x2 82 



1 to 



•585 



Narrowest. 



u 



5-00 X 3-21 









(( 



4-69x3-18 









u 



(5 00x3 03) 



1 to 



-6060 



Average of 87, capacity 365". 



