178 
THE CONDOR 
Vol. XVI 
dent that the former number is that which more frequently occurs, although 
many European, and some American writers, who probably never saw the nest 
of this bird, allege the contrary. The eggs average three inches and three- 
quarters in length, by two inches and a quarter in their greatest breadth, and 
thus are considerably elongated, being particularly narrowed from the bulge to 
the smaller end, which is rather pointed. They are of a dull greenish-ochry 
tint, rather indistinctly marked with spots of dark umber, which are more num- 
erous toward the larger extremity” (vol. viii, p. 168). This description would 
be excellent were it not for the fact that he has the usual number to the clutch 
wrong, the average size wrong, and the form, color and markings all wrong; 
otherwise it is pretty good. 
Cones says for this bird: “Eggs usually 2, 3.50x2.25, elongated and pointed, 
dull greenish-drab, with dark brown and blackish spots” {loc. cit., pp. 1049- 
1050). This description might apply to some few eggs of Gavia immer, but by 
no means to them all. It is a dangerous practice to publish blanket descrip- 
tions of birds’ eggs, as it is with respect to much else constituting biological 
materal. 
Reed says of the eggs of the Loon: “The two eggs which they lay are 
a very dark greenish brown in color, with black spots. Size 3.50x2.25” (p. 7). 
Hoav about no. 11 of figure 52 of the present article? 
The same author says of the eggs of Gavia adamsi that it lays two eggs 
“size 3.60x2.25,” and that in the case of this species “their nesting habits and 
eggs are precisely like the preceding {G. immer), exceiR that the latter average 
a little larger,” in all of which he is very probably correct. Of G. pacifica he 
also says “they lay two eggs of a greenish brown or greenish gray hue with 
black spots. Size 3.10x1.90” {loc. cit., pp. 9 and 10). 
The eggs here shoAvn in fig. 53 are from Mr. Court’s collection and came to 
me accompanied by the folloAving data: No. 14, Gavia arctica. Collector ( ?) ; 
Fornea, Lapland, 14 June, 1909. Set 2. Set mark 20. This egg measures 
3.18x2.00. 
No. 15. Gavia steUata, Oefusa, Iceland, 12 June, 1910 (35.49.2). I find 
the specimen to measure 2.80x1.80, Avhich is someivhat above the average size 
for this species. 
No. 16. Oefusa, Iceland, 2 June, 1910 (38.34.2), a speci- 
men Avhich I find to measure 2.80x1.80. All three of these are of a deep green- 
ish olive ground, deepest in no. 14, lightest in no. 15, AAuth blackish broAvn spots 
distributed as shown in figures. There is no disposition for these spots to es- 
pecially congregate at the larger end in the case of any of these eggs, this being 
but slightly evident in nos. 15 and 16, but not at all so in the ease of no. 14. 
Cones does not refer to either the color or the markings of the eggs of 
Gavia stellata; he simply says: “Eggs 2-3, 3.00x1.75.” As to the ground color, 
1 may say that there is a great similarity Avith respect to it among all species of 
loons of the genus Gavia. 
Variations in size and form., as found in the case of loons’ eggs, is Avell 
shoAvn for the Red-throated Loon (G. .stellata) in fig. 54 (nos. 17-19). These in- 
teresting examples are also from Mr. Court’s collection and bear the folloAving 
data: No. 17, Oefusa, Iceland, 12 June, 1910 (38. 92. 2), an unusual form of egg, 
Avhich I find to measure 3.02x1.74. 
No. 18 Avas collected by A. W. Johnson on the 20th of May, 1874, at Or- 
fiord. North Iceland. There Avere tAvo in the clutch, and I find it to measure 
3.00x1.81, 
