Eggs of the Solitary Sandpiper ( Rhyacophilus solitarius, Bp.). The 
egg of this species has remained, to the present time, an unknown and 
much-desired addition to our cabinets. From time to time eggs claimed 
to be of this bird have been described, or have had a nominal existence 
in collections. But these claims have always been open to suspicion and 
doubt. The eggs have all either had so strong a resemblance to either the 
egg of the Spotted Tatler (Tringoides macularius ) or to that of the Kill- 
deer {JEgialitis vociferus) as to cause the belief that their identification 
could not have been correctly made. During the last year eggs were sent 
to me for verification from five different parties, and all were deemed not 
worthy of credence. A few days ago, hearing of a Solitary Tatler having 
been shot near her nest, and an egg obtained, in Castleton, Vt., I at 
once wrote to the party, and have obtained from him a temporary loan of 
both parent and egg, with permission to describe the same in the Bulletin 
The bird and egg were taken by Mr. Jenness Richardson about the mid- 
dle of May, — I have not the exact date, — 1878, at Lake Bomaseen, 
on the ground, in a pasture bordering on a swamp. The bird was on her 
nest when first discovered, but fluttered off when approached, ran a short 
distance, then stood still, watching him until she was secured. There was 
no actual nest, only a small depression in the ground. I am informed by 
Mr. Richardson that the bird is quite common in that locality, but very 
shy. This egg resembles no egg in my possession, and in its appearance 
ere is something suggestive of an egg prematurely cut from its parent, 
t is smaller than I anticipated, measuring only 1.37 X .95, while the 
egg of Totanus ochropus, which bird closely corresponds in size and appear- 
ance with our Solitary, measures 1.50 x 1.10. The ground-color is a light 
c rab similar to that of the egg of Mgialitis melodus. Over this are scat- 
tered small rounded markings of brown, some of these quite dark, nowhere 
confluent, and never large enough to be called blotches. At the larger 
end there are a few faint purplish or lilac discolorations or shell-marks 
In shape it is an elongated pyriform. — T. M. Brewer, Boston, Mass. 
BuU,N.O.O. 3 -Oct., 1878, p. /^y. 
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