174 lAEID^. 



Fratercula corniculata {Naum.). 



Fratercula corniculata, JBaird, Brewer Sr Ridgw. Water Birds N. Am. ii. 

 p. 529 (1884) ; Grant, Cat. Birds B. M. xxvi. p. 620 (1898) ; Slrnrpe, 

 Hand-l. i. p. 133 (1899). 



The two eggs of the Horned Puffin in the Collection resemble 

 many of the eggs of J**, arciica, but are larger. They are sparingly 

 blotched with very pale purple and they have, in addition, a 

 few yeUowish-hrown lines and veins. They measure respectively : 

 2-8 by 1-91 ; 2-66 by 1-75. 



1. Toporkoff Island, Bering Sea, 12th G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, 



July. Esq. [P.]. 



1. Copper Island, Bering Sea. Q. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, 



Esq. [P.]. 



Order LAEIFORMES. 



The identificaiion of the eggs of the Terns, GuUs and Skuas 

 presents great difficulties, and they should always be particularly 

 well authenticated at the time they are taten from the nest. 



The eggs of the Lariformes are usually of a regular oval form, but 

 numerous specimens depart from this, and are spheroidal, pyriform 

 or elliptical. The shell is slightly rough and seldom exhibits any 

 gloss. The markings are invariably of two kinds : the surface- 

 markings, which are usually of some shade of brown or occa- 

 sionally black ; and the shell-markings underlying the others,, 

 which are usually of a pale purple colour. 



The eggs of the Lariformes in some instances resemble those of 

 some species of the Balliformes, and in others those of many species 

 of the Charadriiformes. 



Family LARIDiE. 



Sub-Family STEB.NIN^. 



Genus HYDEOCHELIDON, Boie. 



Hydrochelidon lencoptera (Meim. ^ Schinz). 



Sterna leucoptera, Thien. Fortpfianz. ges. Vog. tab. Ixxxv. flg. 4, a-f 

 (1845-54) ; Seebohm, Brit. Birds, iii. p. 257, pi. 49 (1885) ; id. Bggs 

 of Brit. Birds, p. 98, pi. 29. figs. 4, 6 (1896). 



Hydrochelidon leucoptera, Baedeker, Eier Eur. Vog. tab. 32. fig. 2 

 (1865-63) ; Bresser, Birds Eur. viii. p. 321 (1875) ; Legye, Birds 

 Ceyl p. 1000 (1880) ; Saunders, Cat. Birds B. M. xxv. p. 6 (1896) ; 

 Sharpe, Hand-l. i. p. 133 (1899). 



The eggs of the White-winged Black Tern cannot.be separated 



