BTJCHANGA ATEA. 389 



very thin, but the sides, or rim, rather firm and thick .... The variation in this bird's eggs is remarkable ; 

 out of more than one hundred eggs nearly one third have been pure white ; and between the dead glossless 

 pure white egg and a somewhat glossy, warm, pink-grounded one with numerous spots and specks of maroon 

 colour, dull red, and red-brown, or even dusky, every possible gradation is to be found : each set of eggs, 

 however, seems to be invariably of the same type, and we have never yet found a pure white and a well coloured 

 and marked egg in the same nest." These latter " are a pale salmon-colour, spotted with rich brownish red." 

 The average of 150 eggs was l'Ol by 0*75 inch, the smallest measuring 095 by - 7inch ; the latter dimensions 

 would be quite equalled, if not exceeded, by those of our Ceylonese birds. 



