APPENDIX. 375 



November. In a series of over one hundred eggs examined, there 

 is a great variation in the size, colour, and disposition of the 

 markings. The predominant form is oval, tapering slightly 

 towards the thin end ; the colour a dull white, some being nearly 

 devoid of markings, others uniformly freckled and spotted over 

 the whole surface of the shell with reddish-brown, others have 

 large irregularly-shaped confluent blotches of purplish-red and 

 slaty-grey, the latter appearing as if beneath the shell, these 

 markings predominate in some towards the larger end of the egg, 

 out many have rounded spots of rich-red evenly distributed over 

 the surface of the shell, in a few instances the markings assume 

 the form of a zone. Length (A) 2'13 x 142 inches ; (B) 2 x 1-45 

 inches ; (C) 1-85 x 1-4 inch ; (D) 2-15 x 1-45 inches ; (E) 2-11 x 

 1-4 inches ; (F) 2-04 x 1-34 inches ; (G) 2-02 x 1-47 inches ; (H) 

 2-14 X 1-48 inches. 



An egg of this species recently received from Dr. Metcalfe, and 

 taken on Norfolk Island, is white, and without markings of any kind. 



Ha^. Lord Howe, Norfolk, and the Islands of the Pacific 

 generally. 



ANGUS STOLIDUS, Linnceus. 

 Noddy. 

 Gould, Eamdhk. Bds. Aust, Vol. ii., sp. 613, p. 413. 32X -?, 



This species was found breeding during October and November, 

 its single egg is deposited on a flat nest of sticks, twigs, and 

 sea-weed, placed upon the sandy beaches. The eggs usually 

 oval in form, are slightly pointed at one end, and vary in colour 

 from white to creamy-white, some being minutely spotted all over 

 with brownish-black, others being closely blotched, more 

 particularly towards the larger end, with blood-red markings and 

 nearly obsolete spots of the same colour. Two average specimens 

 measure as follows: — length >(A) 2-03 x 1*45 inches ; (B) 2-18 x 

 147 inches. 



Hah. Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, and the Islands of the 

 Pacific Ocean. 



