THE EXPLOITATION OF WILD BIRDS FOR THEIR EGGS

Summary. Wild birds whose eggs ark used for food belong mainly to large species and to those nesting colonially; in general, the eggs of such birds are both accessible and palatable. Charadriiformes are the most important egg-birds-both as regards total annual crop and number of species utilized. Charadriiformes and Anseriformes together comprise 85 (or about 60 per cent) of the species which have more or less extensively been exploited during the present century. Procellariiformes and Sphenisciformes are also important. The various species are considered in relation to the estimated annual egg-crop and the chief localities of exploitation: in terms of yield, Sterna fuscata takes pride of place, with an estimated crop in excess of 1,000,000 eggs; while species for which the cropping rate may lie between 1,000,000 and 100,000 eggs include Sphsniscus demersus, Pufinus temirostris, Gallus gallus, Gallinula chloropur, Vanellus vanellus, Larus argentatus, L. ridibundus, Sterna paradisaea, Anoiis stolidus, Uria lumvia and U. aalge.