144 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XV 
brown, or nearly black, blotchy dots (often confluent) and smeared ones that 
mark them more or less all over, is the rule with them. These markings vary 
but little, being simply thicker in some specimens than in others. 
Similar in general color, in patterns of markings, and in form, the eggs of 
the Black-necked Stilt ( Himantopus mexicanns) closely resemble those of the 
Avocet, a fact Mr. Ridgway long ago pointed out in his '‘Manual,” page 147, 
when he stated, in regard to this species of Stilt: "Eggs 1.79 x 1.23. similar in 
coloration to those of Recurvirostra americana.” See nos. 46 and 47 of fig. 45 of 
the present paper. Cones likewise stated in the last edition of his "Key” (pp. 
792, 793 ) that the eggs of the Stilt “resemble those of the Avocet, but average 
decidedly smaller,’’ while his description of them is dififerent from those of other 
describers : “Eggs 3-4, pyriform, 1.60-1.85 ^ greenish-drab or pale 
brownish-olive to dark ochraceous, boldly marked all over with spots and splashes 
of blackish brown.’’ 
Passing to the Scolopacidce, there is first to be noticed the pretty eggs that 
the Woodcock (PJiilohela ini>ior) lays (no. 17, fig. 42). This egg is generally 
more rotund than the eggs of limicoline birds ordinarily are, the Woodcock itself 
being a stocky species. The eggs in Court’s collection are of a pale clay color, 
very faintly tinged with lilac. They are spotted and blotched, chiefly toward the 
butt, with irregular, rusty-brown spots, and a still fewer number of pale lilac or 
faint purplish-gray. These become very much smaller in size and fewer in number 
toward the apex or pointed end. Cones gives these spots as “numberless,’’ which 
1 have never found to be the case. As to their size he also states : “averaging 
1. 50 X 1. 18; a short broad one T.40 x 1.20: a long, narrow one 1.55 x 1.15’’ 
{"Key,” 5th ed. p. 804). 
Swann- describes the eggs of the European Woodcock (Scol- 
opax nisticola) thus: “Eggs: 4; pale bufif, blotched with pale and dark reddish- 
brown, and with underlying lilac blotches; shape somewhat globular: 1.70 by 
I :30.’’ 
Both the European Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) and the Wilson Snipe (Gal- 
linago dclieata) lay very different eggs from those of PJiilohela minor, or, indeed, 
any of the woodcocks. Eggs of the first-mentioned species are shown on fig. 41 
of this article in nos. 13 and 14, while those of the Wilson Snipe are given on fig. 
44, nos. 31-33. It is likely that sometimes the eggs of these two species closely 
resemble each other, and this is not far from being the case with respect to two 
of the eggs before me, while others are very different. For examination I have, 
at the present time, two sets of each species of these snipes, all having four eggs 
to the set, which is the usual complement. On the figures, the eggs are all re- 
produced nearly natural size, and their forms are absolutely accurate. 
Sometimes the eggs of the Wilson Snipe are of a very dark olive-brown, the 
blotches and markings being of a deep bistre, and occurring chiefly near the larger 
end (nos. 32 and 33). Instead of blotches — or at least associated with them — we 
And scrawly scratches as shown in no. 33. The Wilson Snipe also lays a palish 
olive colored egg, with smaller brown spots and blotches, and a few pale lilac 
spots interspersed among them (no. 31). These chiefly encircle the butt. The 
European Snipe also lays both light colored and dark colored eggs, somewhat 
similarly spotted and marked. 
Much to my surprise Swann describes tbe eggs of Gallinago gallinago as be- 
ing. “pale yellowish, with an olive tinge, blotched with reddish-brown and black- 
ish, and with underlying lilac marks; 1.60 by 1.15” (loc. cit. p. 178). Ridgway 
2 . Swann, H. Kirke, A Concise Hand-book of British Birds, London, 1896, p. 177. 
