| OCR Text |
Show 1897.] OR RARE BIRDS' EGGS. 893 H I M A T I O N E VIRENS (Latham). (Plate LI. figs. 6, 7.) I believe that until very recently no egg of any species of the remarkable Family Drepanl'didce has been known. Whatever doubts may exist as to the extent of that Family, there can be none as to the inclusion in it of the genus Himatione. I have therefore great pleasure in exhibiting two eggs of one of the species that have been longest known, H. virens. They may be described as being of a french white, rather closely freckled or streaked with purplish-brown, which towards tbe larger end may form a zone or cap. A specimen obtained by Mr. Wilson measures *83 by *58 inch : one obtained by Mr. Perkins at Koua in Hawaii, and thoroughly identified, seems to be a little smaller, but its impaired condition makes exact measurement dangerous. Its fellow-egg had already hatched, and the chick has furnished Dr. Gadow with the means of continuing his investigations. Several other eggs belonging to species of this Family have been brought home by Mr. Wilson, and among them apparently those of H. muna, and Vestlarla coccinea. They exhibit much the same character of coloration, and there is a strong family-likeness in the nests to which they belong. Mr. Perkins has already noticed (Ibis, 1893, p. 106) the nest of the present species; but I may mention the fact that both the Drepanids and Chasiempis use to a considerable extent in nest-building " the skeletonized fruit-capsules " of the so-called " Cape Gooseberry" (Phgsalls peruviana), a plant not indigenous to Hawaii-it being, I think, contrary to the general rule for birds to use, except accidentally, materials of foreign origin. EMBERIZA RUSTICA, Pallas. (Plate LI. figs. 8, 9.) In the Fourth Edition of Varrell's ' British Birds ' (ii. p. 31) mentioned an egg " professedly " of this species which was in my own collection. The kindness of Mr. Dresser in placing at my disposal some authenticated eggs of this rare Bunting enables me to say that m y own specimen has most likely been wrongly named. The two I exhibit were from a nest of five received by him from Herr J. Alb. Sandman, who took them at Kivarijoki, near Pudasjarvi in Finland, on the 5th of June, 1886, and fully identified the species. This Bunting has occurred in Lapland during the breeding-season, and has been more than once believed to breed in that country (cf. Tarrell, ut supra); but, so far as m y knowledge goes, its nest has not before been found in Europe, and it therefore gives m e much pleasure to exhibit these genuine specimens of its egcrs, wdiich may be described as being of a pale sea-green, with irregular greyish-olive blotches and dashes. They measure respectively *78 and -8 by -57 and -58 inch. PODOCES PANDERI, Fischer. (Plate LI. fig. 10.) Eggs of this very interesting form of bird, the first, according to my knowledge, ever obtained, were procured in Turkestan by Herr Fedtchenko, and exhibited by Professor Cabanis at the annual |
