6o THE CONDOR VoL. VI

made of it, as well for its Quality, as because it is not known whether there are any of the Species elsewhere. It is a Sea Fowl and Black. As to its size it is less than a Hen but has a long Neck and Legs, and lays its Eggs in a light Sandy Ground. These Eggs are wonderful; for besides their being as large as a Gooses, when Boil'd there is very little White found in them, but all Yolk, yet not so well tasted asa Hens. The strangeness of them is, that contrary to all others, when the chickens are hatch'd the Yolk appears whole and sweet as it was at first, with the Chickens Beak fast, and without any White. By this it appears that it is not always true, that the generatire Virtue of the Seed makes the Yolk Fruitful, and that in this Case the Yolk serves for the same use as Placenta /terina does to an Infant. "The Chickens roasted before they are fledg'd prove as good as the best Pigeons. The Spaniards very often eat the Chicken and the Yolk of the Egg to- gether in the same Dish. The old bird is eaten by the Izdiazs, but is tough. The Hen lays about 40 or 5 Eggs in a Trench near the Sea and covers them with Sand. For this reason it is call'd Tavoz, which in the language of the Islands sig- nifies to cover with Earth. There the heat of the Sand hatches them, and the Chickens feed on the Yolk, till they gather Strength to bre. ak the Shell, throw up the Sand and get out. Then the I-Ien which keeps about the neighboring Trees, runs about them making a Noise, and the young ones hearing her labor the hard- er to get out to her. This is no less wonderful than what the Scripture says of the Ostriches Eggs, fob 39- We see the disposition of Providence, in giving this Bird that Instinct to bury its Eggs so deep, and the Chicken such long Claws, as to make its way. They make nests in March, .4pril and May, like the Halcions the Antlents make mention of; because at that time the Sea is Calmest, and the Waves do not swell so high as to spoil them. The Sailors go in quest of them along the shore, and where they find the Sand has been thrown Up they open it with a stick, where they sometimes find Eggs and sometimes Chickens, which are equally Valuable and Nourishing. "There is also a sort of Turtle-Dove with gray Feathers on the Back, and white on the Breast, in the midst whereof is a red Spot, like a Wound with the fresh Blood upon it. 't "The Colin e is a Fowl as big as a Black-Bird, Black and .Ash colour'd; without any Feathers on its Head, but instead of it a Crown of Flesh. That is yet stranger which the Spaniards call Paloma- Torcazf; it is of several colors, as Gray, Green, Red and White on the Breast, with the same Spot like a Wound on the Breast; and the Beak and Feet Red. * * * * "The Salazgang is a strange Bird of the Islands of Calamiaues, .olo and others. It is as big as a Swallow, and builds a little Nest on the Rocks over the Sea-shore. dlahlornas luzont'ca (Scopoli). The plumage is much as described and very striking, the breast spot looking exactly like a blood-stained wound, 'l he genus contains about 3 species of very beautilul ground doves inhabiting the islands of the Australian Region, Five species are found only in the Philippiues. e arcops calvus Linnaeus. A peculiar starliug, the single species being confined to the Philippines. The word 'Colin" or more properly "Collug" is the native name in many parts of the Islands at the present time. ,fThe "PalomaTorcaz" is doubtless lahlo,(z'uas luzonit'a referred to above or possibly sortie other species of the genus. There is no other genus o{ dove in the Islands which has this peculiar breast mark, g Salangana,frant'ca (Gmelin), The author is qmte correct in stating that this is one of the edible nest swifts. Seven species have been recorded lrom the Philippines.