65 



the guidance of their Chairman, Mr. Munn Rankin, examined the 

 strata of the Portland and Purbeck beds between Durlstone Head 

 and Peveril Point. 



Entomological Section. 



Annexed is a report by two members, Messrs. W. Parkinson 

 Curtis and E. Harker Curtis, on the progress they have made in 

 arranging the birds' eggs in the Batley Collection. 



F. G. PENROSE. 



Report on the Batley Ornithological Collection by 

 Messrs. W. Parkinson Curtis and E. Harker Curtis. 



We had during 191 5-16 Session a nearly completely unin- 

 terrupted year at this collection and almost without exception 

 devoted three to four hours every Thursday night to it. 



The delay in delivery of boxes on the part of the makers and 

 the absence of proper cabinets militated against speedy work some- 

 what. We have, however, procured for the temporary housing of 

 the collection some chests of drawers very cheaply, and whilst 

 these do not lend themselves very well to a nice display of the 

 specimens they at any rate ensure reasonable safety for the collec- 

 tion and some degree of accessibility. We have now dealt with 

 1,030 eggs and have, we are glad to report, been able on many 

 occasions to trace the history of the eggs and satisfy ourselves 

 that the data we have attributed to them are correct. Identity 

 checking is not, of course, entirely satisfactory, but the catalogue 

 raisonne which we have compiled gives a very clear idea of the 

 rules by which we have guided ourselves. 



Every egg has been measured for axis and diameter in centi- 

 metres carried to two places of decimals. 



The distribution of the eggs we have so far dealt with is as 

 follows : — 



Ardeiformes 



Ardeidae ... 16 



Ciconidae ... 2 



Plataleidae ... 1 



Ibididae ... 3 



22 



Alciformes 



Alcidae ... ... 147 



22 

 147 



