sate 3 Ceres ies eo; os ri: pepesitssteaterspesireeseeesrese peptascesicisces: = : SBE Sess: 2 peigssise te SSS Se SS Sertrast iste sis Sst See tret ee = syezesa SFrsrasesssest3 atts: rer sitar Seecser seers acto SEE srsrtiess - fi e: = ss pirisssipsrepe pers ipbewstistteessigs eeeees = -: Seigspersy oreee otssiineseee ee EGE fair eiiesieiss pepereeereoes Ly a ie a, i, m, feanings Fre rom Tralbre s Cand: 2 supphe de98-19)0. by i To Warren. Jacobs GLEANINGS eee TAT TERE / No. I. OOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES, By a ¢ Crp mn J: WARREN JACOBS. gad Tllustrated. WAYNESBURG, Pa. INDEPENDENT Book & JoB OFFICE, 1898, GLEANINGS From Nature. & —A series of pamphlets bas- @ ed chiefly on the author’s re- search in ornithology and oology and published from time to time as accumulating material and data permits. Titles of future numbers and their dates of publication will be formally announced in the ornithological magazines. Tan AUTHOR. g 5 1 8 2 o Pe PFE EEOLE, Swe AS "nw Be ¢ Sas ae FLATE I. I. ABNORMAL COLORATION. WHIP-P20R-WILL (1). AMERICAN Crow (a), ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (12) Kentucky WARBLER (15). BARN SWALLOW (14) GREEN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER (4) Cactus WR_En (19). PHOEBE (a2). II. ABNORMAL SIZE. BENDIERS THRASHER (57), RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (41), AMERICAN EARED GREBE (24) CEDAR Waxwinc (52). MARYLAND YELLOW-THROAT (55). VERDIN (59). LF LETECTIL, Iv. ABNORMAL SIZE AND SHAPE. AMeéRICAN Crow (79). CARDINAL (84) Woop Isis (69). ABERT’S TOWHEE (a2). CARDINAL (83). Mourninc Dove '72). PLATE Iv. ABNORMAL. VI Shape and Coloration.—V. Size and Coloratio . —VII. Size, Shape and Coloration. CEDAR Waxwinc (100). Cowsirp (98). FINE GrosBEAK (93). AMERICAN ROBIN (109). CLIFF SWALLow (99). Cowsrrp (97). Sonc SPARROW (94), Sonc Sparrow (103). INTRODUCTION. Although the first number of this series of pamphlets was announced to appear about the close of 1896, unavoidable cir- cumstances retarded the work several months; but this delay has not been without its beneficial results, for the time thus ex- tended has enabled the author to gather much additional material which has been of great value in the preparation of this paper. Over one hundred sets of eggs, each containing one or more abnormal specimens, have been brought together along with the copious notes appertaining thereto. Care has been taken to incorporate in the paper only such notes as have been properly authenticated and are based wholly on abnormal sets in the author’s possession. To my many ornithological friends who have kindly aided me in this work, I wish to extend my sincere thanks, and earn- estly solicit their fellowship and co-operation in the compila- tion of future numbers. J. WARREN JACOBS. Waynesburg, Pa. } Jan. 24, 1898. Oological Abnormalities. The study of oological abnormalism is one to which I have devoted much time, using as my subjects such specimens as came under my personal observation during systematic field work and those secured through correspondence. The collec- tion thus brought together numbers one hundred and ten sets, aggregating four hundred and thirty-three eggs, of which two hundred and three are decidedly abnormal; some only in one particular characteristic while others show a combination of imperfections. Ninety-seven are abnormally colored, some possess a strangely tinted ground or are purely albino; many possessing a normal ground color are wholly or nearly immacu- late, or are Oddly marked with a superfluous abundance of color pigments. One hundred and twenty-two are defective in size, a large percentage of which are runtsof variable patterns. Quite a number of monstrocities are present, and others which have one of their diameters normal are decidedly abnormal in the other. Departure from normal shape is noticeable in eighty - two of the specimens, many of which are of a spherical appear- ance but extremely long narrow specimens are numerous as well as abnormal pyriform types. Just why a bird should finish off and lay a small malformed runt or an extremely large egg has never been fully understood by me, and equally perplexing is the unnatural absence of color pigment from some specimens or the abnormal presence of it on others. When I consulted my library, only meager statements were found; and these were applied in a general way, leaving the cause imperfectly defined; and while some explanations seemed plausible, their application was not consistent in all in— stances. Owing to these facts I have compiled the present pa- per from the evidence at hand, based on the specimens and data in my possession, giving such details asthe facts in the various cases indicate. CoLORATION.—Of the ninety-seven eggs abnormally color- ed, fifty-eight are abnormal in coloration only, being in all other respects typical specimens. Itis an interesting fact that the monstrocities are normally colored as wellas a large percent- Brat age of the runts; the variations in the color of the remaining runts are only slight and the tendency is toward deeper shades, although a few lighter types exist. Mr. O. W. Knight has kindly furnished some valuable obser- vations on the prolific laying of a Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enu- clator) in captivity, together with one of the sets laid by the bird. These eggs were laid July 15, 16 and 17, 1896, and were the fifth laying of a total of six sets (19 eggs) laid by the bird during the season. In ground color and markings they vary from abnor- mally pale in the first and largest to a much darker shade in the _ third and last egg of the set. Mr. Knight carefully marked the eggs each day as they were deposited, so there can be no doubt about the trend of coloration. It would be interesting to know if it is acommon thing for eggs to deepen in color as the laying progresses. In studying the individuality in the eggs of certain pairs of Red-tailed Hawks, Kentucky Warblers and others Ihave run across a few such instances, but by far the greater number of the sets showed the first egg to possess the darker shades and markings. Unfortunately the abnormal sets collected by me were stumbled upon after the laying was completed and conse- quently the trend of coloration, where it did exist, could not be determined. From the records at hand, it seems that the col- lectors of the sets herein treated, met with the same experience, except Mr. Knight who had the birds continuously under his watchful eye. S1zE.—It is difficult, sometimes, to decide when the meas- urements of an egg are deficient in normal characteristics, so great is the variation in the size of eggs of many species. Occasionally one will find monstrocities and runtsin the same nest, and while neither seem to differ widely from the normal _ measurements, their own variations as an individual clutch are remarkable. In point of cubical capacity, the largest egg in proportion to the normal is found in the set of Song Sparrow, No. 103, collect- ed by William L. Kells, Listowell, Ont., Can. This egg, which measures 1.08x.54 inches, has a capacity nearly one-third great- er than its normal companion. Another egg of this set is a tiny runt, measuring .46x .39inch The runt in the set of Verdin, No. 59, and that in the set of Maryland Yellow-throat, No. 55, are the smallest in the collection; the former being about one-fourth and the latter one-fifth normal capacity. So far as lam aware these two runts are the smallest on record. I am always im- pressed with the fact that the majority of those abnormalities,de- fective in size, are strikingly similar to normal specimens with simply an increased or decreased cubical capacity. The small- 6 est runts in the collection are perfect miniatures of their normal companions, and many of the unusually large specimens increase proportionately in long and short diameters. The following tabulated form will give the reader a clear conception of the difference in comparison between the normal and abnormal sizes. The average sizes and other measurements, unless otherwise stated, are ascertained from series in my col- lection: — Normal Eggs. | oa Zz Rm a o Name of Species. eo a ey | si gS De eee 08 ptt Hobe (ge 88 8 | Bg oF Pee Siz : Bo Bn Re nat eee kis American EHared Grebe 12 3 eh 1738x1.21> 1. Lie 83 yy 24 1.05x: .79 24 Western Gull, 3 1 2.84x1,95 2.65x1.62 102 Franklin’s Gull, 6 2 2.05x1.44 2.38x1.37 65 2.32x1.:38 65 Least Bittern, 7 92 4.19 39 CSI Oey 10 Little Blue Heron, 4 1. .4,79%1,29" .8bx 74> 0 ¢2 BV’k-crowned Night Heron, 10 3 2.10x1.49 1.75x1.33 91 1.65x1.27 91 Valley Partridge, 17 1! Lae ES “See ae ae -76x .63 25 Mourning Dove, 24 12, 1.12x .86 ..68x.64 072 1.00x .78 26 97x .76 26 Marsh Hawk, 9 2 1.78x1.44 1.69x1.30 27 1.67x1.28 27- 1.64x1.32 27 1.60x1.32 27 1.94x1.49 73 Red-tailed Hawk, 141 66 2.33x1.87 2.12x1.59 28 American Long-eared Owl, 8 2 1.63x1.33 1.72x1.43 29 Belted Kingfisher, 92 15 1.34x1.07 1.00x .84 30 Red-headed Woodpecker, 10 2 08x .74 .70x .62 (4 L07x-¢ 1.04x 1.07x Aelitexs 83x - 70x 64 .69 65 56 .56 .66 -70 .89 .96 47 49 74 74 72 .52 .02 38 42 39 54 52 -43 .48 67 .65 .65 .06 56 .65 50 62 68 GM)» 64 57 .53 51 104 103 103 Cedar Waxwing, 30 1... 8b 26207 -90s, 269) 105 99x .61 105 96x .61 105 51x .438 62 59x .46 52 California Shrike, 7 1 1.03x .72 .58x .50 106 50x .39 106 Red-eyed Vireo, 56 19 ..82x <68. 66x.-46.. *53 Worm-eating Warbler, 41 AD) 72 66 7. 80x.2b2) 688 Yellow Warbler, 46 11. .67x*.50>>, -66=..41© 107 .56x .41 107 49x .39 107 .62x .39 107 Kentucky Warbler, 121 31 .74x .58 .59x .45 54 Maryland Yellow-throat, 51 13)5\ 01x baa Ase) oD Hooded Warbler, 17 5 .70x .54 .79x .63 89 American Redstart, 37 11: . 65x? p02 60x76 1.90 -59x .51 90 -58x .50 90 -56x .49 90 60x .48 108 59x .51 108 -59x .52 108 61x .51 108 Brown Thrasher, 48 12° 50.07x:-.78) :5.96= 9696 *56 House Wren, 6 1 .65x .49 .56x .40 58 1x .39 858 Verdin, 7 2° .69x .44. .37= .29 °b9 Russet-backed Thrush, 16 4 .88x .67 .79x .63 60 .79x .63:° 60 American Robin, 67 19 1.12x .81 .64x .55 109 Abnormal ~ | Normal Eggs. | Eggs. | >, ee o Name of Species. | -£ fa! | 5 gS S 58 | cA} a 2 = Sm g Of | 5B gS 7 ® VY m~ Double-crested Cormorant, Davie, 2.18x1.43 2.76x1.42 66 Gadwall. Davie, 2.09x1.57 1.33x1.12 67 Shoveller, Coues, 2.10x1.50 1.56x1.05 68 Wood Ibis, Coues, 2.75x1.75 1.69x1.35 69 2.40x1.75 69 2.30x1.70 69 2.35x1.75 69 2 Gambel’s Partridge, Bendire, 1.24x .94 .65x 51 92 Cabanis’ Woodpecker, Bendire, .98x .73 .87x .67 © 31 BSR OUS ie OL A ages RR Pine Grasbeak, _Coues, 1.05x .75 .93x .64 93 87x 63 93 : 83x .59 93 Bendire’s Thrasher, Davie, 1.02x .74 .81x .66 57 ConTouR.—‘‘The short diameter,corresponding to the calibre of the oviduct, is less variable than the long axis; for when the quantity of food-yelk and white upon which the difference in bulk depends, varies with the vigor of the individual, the scan- tiness or redundancy is expressed by the shortening or length- ening of the whole mass.’’—Coues’ Key, Page 224. Ifthis law held good would not all runt eggs have a more nearly spherical shape; and would not the short diameter be more nearly nor- mal? Oologists who have handled freak eggs, doubtless recall how closely many runts resembled the normal eggs in contour. The same may be