A LOVE OF ODD NUMBERS 147 



American Vultures, the Lammergeier, the Sun- 

 Bittern, the White Noddy (Gygis), the Crab-Plover 

 {Dromas ardeold), and many Auks, Penguins, Hum- 

 ming-birds, and Pigeons. Most Pigeons and Hum- 

 ming-birds, however, lay two eggs, as do some of 

 the diving sea-fowl just mentioned. 



Four is the ordinary number with the shore- 

 birds — Plovers, Sandpipers, and so forth — and it is 

 only among these that a larger set than one or two 

 is constant ; as a general rule when twins are 

 exceeded, "several" is the only numerical expres- 

 sion which can be used to describe the hatch. 

 Birds which do not lay two or four eggs seem, 

 however, often to think that there is luck in odd 

 numbers, for three, five, and seven are frequent 

 numbers. 



There is a widespread tendency, as that very 

 acute observer, Mr. E. C. Stuart Baker, has pointed 

 out, to over-rate the number of eggs laid by the 

 Game-birds and Ducks ; these are really not so 

 much more prolific than the birds nursing helpless 

 young in nests as is supposed, at any rate in the 

 East. The wild Hen oftener lays six eggs than a 

 dozen, and this will be a reasonable, brood for many 

 Ducks ; the Australian Musk-Duck (Biziura lobata) 

 only lays three eggs. It would appear, however, 

 that in Europe most birds, Passerines included, are 

 more prolific than in the Tropics. 



The eggs of birds which have active young are 

 credited with being bigger than those from which 

 passive nestlings are excluded, as well as more 



