xviii PREFACE. 
the-two laft, are of a fize ftrangely large in proportion to the bulk 
of the birds. They are commonly of a pale green color, fpotted 
and ftriped fo varioufly, that not two are alike ; which gives every 
individual the means of diftinguifhing its own, on the naked rock,, 
where fuch multitudes aftemble. 
Divers, only two. 
Terns and Gulls lay about four eggs, of a dirty olive, fpotted 
with black. - 
* Ducks lay from eight to twenty eggs ; the eggs of all the genus 
are of a pale green, or white, and unfpotted. 
Pinguins lay two eggs white, and remarkably round. 
Of the Pelican genus , the Gannet lays but one egg ; the 
Shags, or Corvorants, fix or feven, all white ; the laft the molt 
' oblong of eggs. 
A minute account of the Eggs of birds, merits a treatife of it~ 
felf, or ftiould follow the defcription of each fpecies. This is only 
meant to fliew the great conformity nature obferves in the fhape 
and colors of the eggs of congenerous birds ; and alfo, that Ihe 
keeps the fame uniformity of color in the eggs, as in the plumage 
of the birds they belong to. 
Zinanni publifhed, at Venice , in 1737, a treatife on eggs, illus- 
trated with accurate figures of 106 eggs. Mr. Reyger of Dant- 
zick publifhed, in 1766, a pofthumous work by Klein, with 21- 
plates, elegantly coloured : But much remains for future 
writers. 
* Pettrofe'sVoy. Falkland Hies, 32. 
SYSTEM, 
