BRITISH BIRDS NESTs
OR SOLAN GOOSE.
GANNET,
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B95
~ BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS
HOW, WHERE, AND WHEN TO FIND
AINUD) JUDO INEGI PEI NE
BY
ee AE ON,
AUTHOR OF ‘‘ BIRDS’ NESTS, EGGS, AND EGG COLLECTING”
INTRODUCTION BY y as ‘TH ;
abies £49) V/ ~
R. BOWDLER SHARPE, aie “uy
VOY
<9 199)
Lis} on
See TRIES
ILLUSTRATED FROM PHOTOGRAPHS BY
C. KEARTON
OF NESTS, EGGS, YOUNG, ETC., IN THEIR NATURAL SITUATIONS
AND SURROUNDINGS
CASSELL ann COMPANY, Limirep
LONDON, PARIS & MELBOURNE
1895
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
SUCKED
GREY CROW AND
ING
YOU
? TGGS.
DUCKS
INE OW Wie ELON.
————
Tue illustrations of Brrrrsaq Brros’ Nests which have
been submitted to me by Mr. Kearton deserve
more than a passing acknowledgment. This book
certainly marks an era in natural history, just as
Gouid’s ‘‘ Birds of Great Britain” and Booth’s
“Rough Notes” did in the past. The method of
illustrating works on natural history has undergone
as much development, as the illustration of the
animals themselves has done in our public museums.
The works of the early part of the century were em-
bellished with the faithful woodeuts of Bewick, or
with coloured pictures of more or less merit. These
were succeeded by the writings of Macgillivray,
Yarrell, and Hewitson, the former contaiming the
best life histories of our British birds, equalled only
by those of the great German naturalist Naumann.
The great merit of Macgillivray’s work les in the fact
that it is almost entirely original, both as regards
the descriptions of structure and plumage, as well
as of the habits of the birds. Yarrell was also a
great naturalist, and his work was illustrated by the
neatest of little woodeuts, which survive unto this
day; but a candid critic must admit that the attitudes
of many of the birds are strained and unnatural,
and must have been taken from stuffed specimens.
Hewitson’s illustrations of the eges of British birds
are still, in my humble opinion, the most beautiful
of any which have appeared in this country, though
the most perfect representations of birds’ eggs yet
published are those of Captain Bendire, issued by
the Smithsonian Institution.
viii BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
The influence of faithful illustration in works on
natural history soon began to make itself felt im
museums, and a higher aim in the efforts of taxi-
dermists became apparent; but the man who most
fully realised this necessity, in England at least,
was John Hancock, and, after him, the late H. T.
Booth, of Brighton, whose museum in the Dyke
Road is one of the attractions of that flourishing
watering-place. I cannot vouch for the truth of
the statement, but I have more than once heard
it said that the formation of this collection cost
the late owner sixty thousand pounds from first to
last. Travelling all over the United Kingdom, and
collecting diligently, Mr. Booth managed to get
together a very complete collection of British birds,
which, however, he did not mount in the usual
way of museums, on rows of stands, but placed his
treasures in cases, in which the birds were repre-
sented with their natural surroundings. Thus we
see the Waders feeding on the shore, with a view
of the sea beyond; and Stone-Chats sit on their
native gorse, instead of perching on a wooden stand,
with a very evident stiffness due to the taxidermist’s
wire. The pictures of bird-life in the Dyke Road
Museum are faithfully reproduced by Mr. Neale in
the illustrations to the ‘‘ Rough Notes,” which were
published by Mr. Booth.
The crowds of people, increasing year by year,
who visit the Natural History branch of the British
Museum at South Kensington, testify to the popu-
larity of the bird-groups in the national collection.
These faithfully represent the natural history of the
species, for the actual birds are there, with their
nest and eggs or young ones, exactly as they were
on the day of their capture; every leaf, every flower,
being exactly reproduced. It must, however, not
INTRODUCTION. ix
be forgotten that much of the interest felt in the
nesting habits and the plumage of the young
of our British birds is due to the late John
Gould, in whose magnificent work on the ‘“ Birds
of Great Britain” both these features were made
conspicuous. His collection has passed into the
British Museum, and the series of nestling birds is
quite remarkable.
The purchase of such works as those of Gould
and Booth is beyond the compass of most of us, and
this is an age when everyone expects knowledge to be
dispensed at a cheap rate, and to be brought within
the reach of people of moderate means. Even Mr.
Seebohm’s work on British birds, the only one
which can fairly be said to take rank beside those
of Naumann and Macgillivray, is expensive, and
unattainable by students of natural history, who are
daily increasing in number. Mr. Kearton, therefore,
steps in at the right moment with this book on
British Birps’ Nests, and it will be some time
before he finds a rival; for the photographs with
which he and his brother have embellished the book
are not only beautiful as photographs, but show us
the nests and eggs of our birds wm setu. I will not
detract from the interest of the work by quoting
from it; but the way in which these young natural-
ists have overcome the very serious diificulties
presented by the task they undertook, proves that,
in addition to the native British pluck, the true love
of natural history is necessary to accomplish such a
result as they have achieved. It is everything to
show Nature as she really is, and here photography,
the handmaid of science in the field, comes in.
Artists will undoubtedly admire the illustrations, but
the naturalist will love them still more, because they
show him the nests of the birds as the authors
A*
x BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
discovered them ; no imaginary details, as is so often
the case in illustrations of bird-life, but the actual
nest itself, so that the perusal of the book is a birds’-
nesting expedition. The descriptions of the birds
and of the material of the nests are both adequate
and instructive, and the latter will be most useful.
I am certain that we are not going to hear the
last of Mr. Kearton and his brother with the present
volume; and, if I may suggest, naturalists would
especially like to hear more of thei birds’-nesting
experiences in detail. There is so much still to
be learnt about the habits of birds, even of our
commoner kinds; and in a long course of editing
and writing of books on birds, I find the greatest
difficulty im gathering any new facts about their
habits. Even in my suburban garden I have
learnt many interesting facts; and anyone who has
travelled, hke Mr. Kearton, in search of subjects for
the pen and camera, must have much to tell. That
he could relate his experiences excellently, too, is
evident from his preface to the present work, and
I can only hope that he will speedily do so. The
difficulties which he and his brother have sur-
mounted in procuring their series of beautiful photo-
graphs of British birds’ nests, prove that there is
nothing which they would not dare; and I can assure
them that there is nothing for them to fear from
the British public, who will undoubtedly be glad to
hear some more of their stories of bird-life in the
field.
R. BOWDLER SHARPE.
British Musewn (Nat, Hist.),
South Kensington,
Sept. 7, 1895.
le 163) dst ve Gla
———
THE primary object of this work is to supply such
information as will help the student of ornitholog
to find and identify the nests and eggs of birds
breeding within the British Isles. In its prepara-
tion I have endeavoured always to keep my own
early wants in view, and worked accordingly.
The arrangement of the book (a sort of combina-
tion of Montagu and Newman) is, I am inclined
to think, the best for a popular work of its kind,
and enables a ready reference to any bird or its
breeding habits and economy. ‘The brief descrip-
tions of the parent birds—which are as far as possible
in their breeding plumage, and have been made as
concise and practical as circumstances would admit—
will be found of considerable assistance in identifying
specimens, which is unquestionably the most im-
portant point connected with the study of the
subject.
I recognised this fact when I was a lad of nine
years of age, and in endeavouring to carry it to its
logical conclusion brought considerable trouble upon
myself. During one of my solitary excursions along
the side of a noisy Yorkshire beck I came across a
bird’s nest, differmg so widely from all my previous
)
‘¢takes’’ and discoveries that I determined to find
out the species to which it belonged, and accord-
xii BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
ingly hid myself and began to watch for the return
of its builder. Night fell without bringing any
success, so I curled myself up beneath an over-
hanging crag, in order to wait until the bird came
back in the morning to lay another egg, entirely
oblivious of the fact that I should be missed
at home. My slumbers were broken early by a
great outcry in the little gill. The whole of the
able-bodied population of our mountain village had
turned out to help find me, and I have good reason
for believing that many mournful prophecies as to
my fate were indulged in by those who knew some-
thing of my queer habits. I suffered that night some-
what severely in the interests of science; nevertheless
my ardour was not quenched, and I returned at
the earliest opportunity to the strange nest by
the beck-side, when a sight of its owner as she
hurriedly left her eggs made it plain that the domed
house of moss belonged to a Dipper. I have on
many occasions since that gratified my desire to
spend a night with the birds, both on land and sea,
in winter and in summer, and have learned on
each occasion something it was both pleasant and
profitable to know.
I have been a bird lover and collector for upwards
of twenty years, and much of this work has been
written from my own specimens and note-books,
giving, of course, in the case of the birds themselves,
due care to the parts that fade and alter after
death. I have also freely consulted and unreservedly
acknowledge my indebtedness to such authorities
as Yarrell (revised and enlarged by Messrs. Newton
PREFACE. xiii
and Saunders), Seebohm, Dresser and _ Sharpe,
Dixon, Montagu, Morris, Newman (revised and
rewritten by Miller Christy), Stevenson, Swaysland,
Booth, Bechstein, Atkinson, and others. Neither
must I forget to mention the Feld, from the
natural history columns of which I have compiled
a whole note-book of useful and extraordinary facts,
many of which find a place in the following pages.
I have also to express our thanks, for valuable
assistance readily rendered, to the Duke of Argyll,
the Marquis of Lorne, Lord Walsingham, the Con-
servators of Epping Forest, Mr. J. Anderson of
Oban, Mr. H. A. Paynter of Alnwick, Mr. James
Sinclair of Kirkwall, Mr. Robert Baldry of Norwich,
Mr. R, J. Ussher of Cappagh, Mr. C. H. Bisshopp of
Oban, and the numerous factors, farmers, keepers,
and boatmen who have assisted us most willingly
in obtaining the necessary materials for the pro-
duction of the work.
The great feature of the book lies in the unique
character of its pictures. In this respect we can
claim that it is the first practical attempt to illus-
trate a manual on the subject from photographs taken
mm situ. A glance through its pages will at once
establish the valuable nature of this new departure.
Of course, it must not be supposed that all the
nests and eggs are to be seen exactly as represented
in the illustrations; for many of them had to be
partially exposed before a photograph could possibly
be taken, and in some instances actually removed
from holes, as in the case of the Wheatear, Starling,
and Swallow.
xiv BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
The experienced ornithologist will no doubt miss
a few nests he might reasonably expect to find in
this work; but on the other hand it is certain he
will discover some of infinitely greater value, which
he did not expect to fall in with. The omission of
such birds as the Golden Plover, Dabchick, Yellow
Wagtail, Corncrake, and a few others, is due in
some cases to accident, and in others to our inability
to find them, although we searched long and
diligently. In some instances it happened that
directly we succeeded in finding and photographing
a bird's nest which had entailed considerable trouble
in the search, we immediately came across others
by accident. This was notably the case with the
Ringed Plover, Kingfisher, and Dunlin. In several
cases good pictures have been left out because we
were unable, from lack of trustworthy evidence, to
identify them with absolute certainty.
No one who has yet to try this particular branch
of photography, can possibly appreciate its troubles
and disappointments. As an instance of the latter,
my brother on one occasion travelled upwards of
five hundred miles by rail, and dragged his camera
at least twelve miles up and down a mountain side,
in order to take a view of one bird’s nest, and
was defeated by the oncoming of a thick mist at
the very moment he was fixing up his apparatus.
The Golden Eagle’s eyrie was photographed during
the temporary lifting of a Highland mist, and con-
sidering the situation, and the unsatisfactory state
of the hght, has turned out very successfully.
The picture of the Solan Goose was obtained
PREFACE. XV
about four o’clock in the morning on Ailsa
Craig, and so early in the season that the birds
had not settled down seriously to the business of
incubation; and is of especial value and interest
to us on account of the adventures we encountered
on that “ beetling crag.’ In getting down to the
edge of the cliff, my brother placed too much
dependence upon the stability of a large slab of
rock, which treacherously commenced to shther
down the terribly steep hill side at a great pace
directly it received his additional weight. He
narrowly managed to save himself and the camera,
with which he was encumbered at the time, from
being shot over the lip of the precipice, and sustain-
ing a fall of several hundred feet, into the sea below.
We took five photographs of the Gannet sitting
on her nest, each at closer range, and although
she was ill at ease while all this was going on, by
working deftly we established ourselves somewhat
in her confidence, and got close enough to obtain
the picture forming the frontispiece to this work.
When everything was ready, as if by the malicious
intervention of some unkind fate, the screw affixing
the camera to the tripod suddenly dropped out, and
the apparatus toppled over seawards. It was well on
its way to what the Americans describe as “ ever-
lasting smash,’ when my brother, by a dexterous
catch, stopped it from striking a piece of rock, off
which it would have rebounded and finally dis-
appeared over the cliff. By the aid of some strong
feather shafts (the only materials available), we
managed to fix up, after a fashion, our apparatus
Xvi BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
again, and whilst the artist held the camera on to
the tripod, and the author, from a more secure
footing, held the artist by the coat-tails on to the
Craig, the picture was obtained, which I venture
to think amply rewards us for our trouble.
The members of an eminent Northern natural
history society visited the Craig about a fortnight
afterwards for the same purpose, and, from the
insurmountable character of the difficulties which
presented themselves, had to return empty-handed.
Nobody who has essayed the same task will much
blame them.
The Kestrel’s nest was situated on the stump
of a tree growing at right angles from a cleft in
a Highland ‘scar,’ and, as may be judged, was
in an exceedingly awkward situation to photograph.
However, by the kindly assistance of a gamekeeper
and a strong rope, my brother and his camera were
lowered on to the stump, sitting astride of which
he lashed his apparatus thereto and exposed four
plates, every one of which turned out a failure on
account of the close range, snowy whiteness of
the uneasy little birds, and the blackness of the
background. We were obliged to do the whole thing
over again, and after a series of experiments managed
to secure the photograph from which our illustration
has been reproduced.
In 1894 we were unable to land upon the Meg-
stone Rock at the Farne Islands, for the purpose
of securing a picture of the Cormorants’ nests,
on account of the dangerous swell running at the
time. This year we went considerably out of our
PREFACE. xvii
way in order to remedy the defect in our series,
and after inducing the boatman and his crew to
land us, at great risk to the craft and all our
lives, were disappointed to discover that a recent
north-easterly gale had swept every nest and egg
off the rock. The birds were busy building new
nests, and our illustration represents the foundations
of some of them.
We sought hard on the shores of several High-
land lochs for the nest of a Sandpiper, from four
o'clock in the morning till breakfast time, three
or four days running, but in vain; and when we
had almost given up the task as hopeless, a curious
thing happened. I was lying at full length one
evening upon a great fang-like promontory of rock
that jutted out into a sea loch, testing the capa-
bilities of a smail rifle, when I startled a bird off
her nest, containing four eggs, in a tussock of rushes
close by me. At this time we had exposed all
our stock of plates except two, and the reader
will be able to judge of our chances of renewing
supplies, when I tell him that we were staying at
a place so remote and isolated that the kind
Highland body who put us up (at considerable
inconvenience to herself and her family) was
for the space of three or four days quite unable
to procure us fish, flesh, or fowl to eat. A strong
breeze was blowing at the time from seaward, and
after weighting the camera as heavily as we dared
with a lump of rock to prevent vibration, and
sheltering the waving rashes with our jackets, one
of the remaining precious plates was exposed.
Xvill BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Fearful that we had not succeeded, my brother
returned to our quarters a mile away and developed
the negative—alas! only to find that the vibration
of the apparatus had utterly ruined it. We were
now reduced to our last chance. The breeze had
increased if anything, and the prospect of obtaining
a decent picture certainly looked gloomy. We
rammed the legs of the tripod as far into the
hard-baked handbreadth of ground as_ possible,
weighted each with a heavy leaning stone, hung
a huge iron otter trap beneath the body of the
camera, and placed as big a stone as the construc-
tion of the machine would bear on the top; then
waited, jackets in hand and shoulder to shoulder,
for a temporary lull in the wind. Luckily the
result rewarded our trouble.
The Kingfisher’s nesting-hole was in such a
position that my brother was obliged to photo-
graph it standing waist-deep in the river Mole, the
switling waters of which reached very nearly up
to the body of the camera. The nests of the Ring
Dove, Sparrow Hawk, and several other high builders
were obtained by climbing adjoiing trees and
lashing the apparatus thereto, building scaffolds
and other contrivances, the difficulties of which a
practical photographer alone can fully appreciate.
Some of the pictures were obtained with one of
Messrs. Dallmeyer’s tele-photo lenses, an admirable
contrivance for inaccessible objects and timid
animals, which it would be impossible to approach
near enough with an ordinary apparatus. Despite
its difficulties and dangers, photographing natural
PREFACE. X1x
history objects in their own haunts and elements
is an extremely pleasant pastime, and no one
pursuing it should be without one of these instru-
ments, which we had made adjustable to a_half-
plate camera. A good pair of field-glasses are
also very useful for watching shy birds on or off
their nests, and I have made some really aston-
ishing discoveries by the aid of mine at times.
The circumstances governing the distances at
which our photographs were taken made it quite
impossible, as may be easily understood, for us to
adjust the relative sizes of the eggs of different
species. However, the average measurement of
each bird’s egg in inches and the decimal parts
thereof will easily prevent any misconception on
this point. |
Asa great deal of valuable time is often wasted
in finding out how to get to good sea-bird haunts,
I propose to give particulars respecting some of
the best we have visited.
The Farne Islands are now under the control
of an Association, having for its raison détre the
protection of the birds breeding on these far-famed
rocks. However, passes may be purchased from
Mr. Hughes, landlord of the Ship Inn, North
Sunderland (nearest railway station — Chathill).
Fisherman Richard Allen has a capital craft for
taking visitors off, and is a capable and experienced
boatman—a distinct acquisition to the naturalist or
photographer, where tides and currents run as fiercely
as mill-races. Mr. Kendal, of the Canty Bay
Hotel, some four miles from North Berwick, rents
26.6 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
the Bass Rock; but before paying a contemplated
visit to that ancient haunt of the Solan Goose,
it will be well to make prior arrangements, in
order to save time and prevent disappointment.
Ailsa Craig is rented by two brothers named
Girvan, one of whom lvyes on the rock and the
other at Girvan, on the Ayrshire coast. The one
upon the mainland will ferry the visitor across
the nine miles or so of ocean, and the brother
on the Craig will act as guide over the awesome
rock-stack.
Oban forms a very good base of operations for
doing the Hebrides (per Mac Brayne’s splendid service
of boats) and the mountaims round about. John
Cowan, boatman, of Corran Esplanade in Oban, is
a very intelligent fellow from an_ ornithological
point of view, and owns a good sailing boat where-
with the small islands in the adjoining lochs may
be profitably worked. The Shiant Islands may
be visited by a hired boat from Tarbert, Harris ;
however, we experienced considerable difficulty at
this place, by reason of the men being actively
engaged in fishing just when we required their
Services.
In conelusion, I need hardly say that we shall
be extremely grateful to any gentleman kind enough
to give us an opportunity of taking the photograph
of any bird’s nest which does not already appear in
this work.
Boreham Wood,
Elstree, Herts, 1896.
BRITISH BIRDS NESTS.
ACCENTOR. See Hence Sparrow.
BITTERN.
Has now quite ceased to breed in the British
Isles, and is only a rare visitor.
BLACKBIRD.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about ten
inches. Bill of medium length, nearly straight,
and yellow. Hyelids yellow. Plumage uniform
deep black. Legs and toes brownish black, claws
black,
The female is of a dark rusty brown colour,
bill and feet dusky brown.
Situation and Locality.—Bushes, hedges, ledges
of rock, holes in and on projecting ‘‘ troughs” of dry
walls, on banks, in evergreens, against the trunks
of trees, and occasionally quite on the ground. I
have upon more than one occasion found a
Blackbird’s nest built upon an old Thrush’s, and
vice versa. Common nearly all over the United
Kingdom.
Materials—Small twigs, roots, dry grass, moss,
intermixed with clay or mud. Sometimes bits of
wool, leaves, fern fronds, and even paper, lined
internally with fine dry grass.
B
i)
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Eiggs.— Four to five, sometimes six. Some
authorities say as many as seven and eight; but
although I have been birds’-nesting now for five-
and-twenty years, I never met with either number.
Of a dull bluish-green, spotted and blotched, and
rarely streaked with reddish-brown and grey. They
vary considerably, both in regard to ground colour,
shape, size, and markings. Some varieties are
covered with small spots, others with such large
ones that they very closely resemble the eggs of
the Ring Ouzel, whilst a third variety is almost
spotless. Size about 1:18 by ‘85 in.
Time.—March, April, May, June, July, and even
as late as August.
Remarks.—Resident. - Notes: call, tsissrr, tack,
tach; alarm, a loud, ringing spink, or chink, chink,
chink. Song powerful, and generally delivered at
the beginning or end of the day. Local and
other names: Merle, Black Ouzel, Amzel Ouzel. A
close sitter.
BLACKCAP.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about six
inches ; bill of medium length, straight, and dark
horn colour. Irides brown. All the upper part
of the head black; nape ash grey ; back and wing-
coverts ash-grey, tinged with brown; wing and
tail-quills brown, bordered with grey ; cheeks, chin,
throat, and breast hght grey; belly and under-parts
white; legs and toes lead colour; claws brown.
The female is. larger than the male; the top
of her head is dull rust colour, and her plumage
generally more tinged with brown.
Situation and Locality.—In brambles, — briars,
thick hedges, nettles, and gooseberry bushes, in
IBIL/ MCV BIURIDIS INS AS,
4 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
gardens, orchards, thickets, shubberies, and other
suitable places, at varying heights of from two to
ten or twelve feet from the ground. In all parts
of England and Wales, and more sparingly in
Scotland and Ireland. It is a very widely dis-
tributed bird.
Materials.—F ibrous roots, straws, and dead grass,
with an inner lining of hair. It is a flimsy structure,
sometimes strengthened by wool or spiders’ webs.
Higgs.—Five to six, very variable, and often
difficult to identify, as they closely resemble those
of some of the other Warblers. The commonest
type is that of a greyish-white underground, suffused
with buffish-brown, and spotted, blotched and marbled
with dark brown. Sometimes they are found pale
brick-red, marked with a darker tinge of the same
colour, and reddish-brown; also faint blue, marked
with grey and yellowish-brown. Size about °78 by
"58 in.
Time.— May and June.
Remarks.—Migratory, arriving in April and leav-
ing in September, odd specimens remaining till
November or December. Notes: alarm, tach, tack,
or tec, tec. Song of great power and freedom.
Local and other names: Hay Jack, Hay Chat,
Mock Nightingale, Nettle-creeper, Nettle-monger,
Blackcap Warbler. Sits very closely.
BULLFINCH.
Description of Parent Birds.—lLength about six
inches. Bill short, broad, and thick at the base,
and black. JIrides dark brown. Round the base
of the beak, and all the upper part of the head,
black. Nape, back, and lesser wing-coverts grey ;
BiG EN Gr.
6 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
greater coverts black, tipped with greyish-white,
which forms a bar across the wing-quills, dusky.
Rump white, upper tail-coverts and tail-quills black.
Cheeks, breast, and belly tile-red. Vent and under
tail-coverts white. Legs and toes flesh colour;
claws brown.
The female has the black on the head, wings,
and tail not so intense; her nape and back are
ereyish-brown, and breast, belly, and under-parts
dirty brown.
Situation and Locality.—In the lower branches
of trees, the tops of high bushes, in thick, quick-
set hedges and thickets in suitable localities through-
out the British Isles; rarer towards the extreme
north of Scotland and in Ireland. The one repre-
sented in our illustration was situated in a thick
Surrey wood.
Materials.—Small twigs and fibrous roots, inter-
laced so as to form, as a rule, a broad and flat
platform, in the centre of which is the cup-shaped
recess lined with fine fibrous roots and sometimes
a little wool, hair, or a few feathers.
Eggs.—Four to six. Pale greenish-blue, spotted,
speckled, and sometimes streaked with dark purplish-
brown, and with underlying blotches of brownish-
pink. The markings generally form a zone round
the large end of the egg. Size about ‘77 by
Sct elit
Time.—April, May, June, and July.
Remarks.—Resident. Notes: call, soft, plaintive,
and frequently-uttered; song, feeble and low. Male
ceases to sing as soon as eggs have been laid.
Local and other names: Beechfinch, Horsefinch,
Pink, Twink, Olph, Nope, Red Hoop, Alp, Hoop.
Sits very closely indeed.
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 7
BUNTING, CIRL.
Description of Parent Birds.—ULength about six
inches. Bill short, conical, and bluish-grey. Irides
hazel.
=
B
&
3
24 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Time.—May.
Remarks.—Resident. Notes: Creea, creea, ren-
dered by Mr. Seebohm as /héé-6, khee-6. Utters a
quick, chattermg noise at times, lke a starling.
Local and other names: Cornish Daw, Cornish
Chough, Cornwall Kae, Market Jew, Chauk Daw,
Red-legged Crow, lulligrew, Hermit Crow, Cliff Daw,
Gesner’s Wood Crow. Gregarious, but decreasing
in numbers. Not a very close sitter, and noisy
when intruded upon.
COOT.
Description of Parent Birds.—LLength about
eighteen inches. Jill of medium length, nearly
straight, and dull white tinged with red. There is
a smooth, naked white patch on the forehead which
readily distinguishes this bird from the Waterhen,
with its red shield. Irides hazel. Under the eye
is a narrow, curved line of white. ‘he whole of the
plumage is black with exception of white on the
bend of the wing and narrow bar formed by the
white tips of the secondaries. ‘The under-parts are
tinged with bluish-grey. Legs, toes, and scallop-
shaped lobes on either side of the latter, dark green.
Above the knee is an orange-coloured garter.
The female is similar in size and appearance to
the male.
Situation and Locality.—Amonegst reeds, rushes,
osiers, and other aquatic herbage in marshes, by
the sides of ponds, reservoirs, large sluggish rivers,
and lakes. They are generally built up from
the bottom, but are sometimes simply moored to
surrounding objects, and becoming detached by
wind or floods, float about without any apparent
COOm:
26 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
inconvenience to the builder. I recollect once
seeing an instance of this kind in a large reservoir
in South Yorkshire. Breeds in suitable places in
nearly all parts of the British Isles. Our illustra-
tion was procured in Norfolk.
Materials—Decaying sedges, flags, reeds, and
rushes, and although not very elegant is wonder-
fully strong. It is a very pretty sight to see this
bird pulling up decayed weeds and swimming with
them to its half-constructed nest.
Hggs.—Seven to ten. As many as fourteen
or fifteen have been found. Dingy stone-colour
or dull buff, spotted and speckled all over with
nutmeg brown. Size about 2°1 by 1°5 in.
Time.—April, May, June, and July.
Remarks.—Resident, and partially migratory.
Note, a clear, rmging fo. Local and other names:
Common Coot, Bald Coot. Sits lightly.
CORMORANT.
Description of Parent Birds——Length about
thirty-six inches. Bill rather long, straight except
at the tip, where it is hooked, and pale brown.
Trides green. Crown, nape, and a portion of the
neck black, intermixed with a number of very narrow
white feathers almost lke hairs. The feathers at
the back of the head are elongated into a kind of
crest. The feathers on the back and of the wing-
coverts are dark brown bordered with black. Wing
and tail quills black. Round the base of the bill and
chin bare and yellow, bordered with white on the
latter. Neck all round below the portion streaked
with white, breast, belly, and under-parts rich bluish-
black, except on either thigh, where there is a patch
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 27
of white. Legs, toes, membranes, and claws black.
The female is said not to be so large as the
male, but has her crest often longer.
Situation and Locality —On ledges of cliff by
the sea, and also inland, on low rocky islands and
reefs, sometimes in trees. ‘The bird breeds pretty
generally round our coasts wherever suitable cliffs
and rocks are to be found, and has _ established
inland colonies at several places. We were untfor-
tunately unable to land on the Cormorant Rock at
the Farne Islands on account of a heavy sea running,
at the time we visited it in 1894. As we approached,
the birds left their nests one by one and flew out to
sea. The stench on the leeward side of the island
was so intolerable that it turned my brother sick.
In spite of this he, however, tried two flying
shots from the boat; but the tide runs amongst
the Farne group lke a millrace, and we were soon
carried out of focus. Next year (1895) we were
determined to land upon the Cormorants’ Rock
(Megstone), and at length succeeded in doimg so at
considerable personal risk, but, alas! only to find
that a recent gale had swept every nest and egg
off it. We, however, took a photograph of the new
nests the birds were busy building, as represented
in our illustration.
Materials —Sticks, twigs, and coarse grass or
seaweed, depending upon locality. It is a large,
high nest.
Eggs.—Three generally, but sometimes as many
as five or six. The real shell is a pale blue, but
this is usually hidden by a thick coating of chalk
which can easily be scraped off. Sometimes the
real shell shows through the casing of lime. Size
about 2°6 by 1:62 in.
Time.—April, May, and June.
he
oe)
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Remarks.—Resident. Note: remarkably silent,
but occasionally utters ‘‘a harsh croak’’ according
to Seebohm. Local and other names, Crested
Cormorant, Corvorant, Great Black Cormorant,
Cole Goose, Sea Crow, Scart Brongie, Norie. Sits
closely or lightly according to situation.
CRAKE, BAILLON’S.
A rare bird, whose nest and eggs have only
been found about twice in the British Isles, and
in neither case within recent times.
CRAKE, CORN.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about ten
and a half inches. Bill of medium length, nearly
straight, thick at the base, and light brown. Inides
hazel. Over the eyes and ear-coverts, also cheeks,
ash-crey. Head, neck, back part of wings, tail-
coverts, and feathers reddish-brown, with a long
dusky streak in the centre of each. Wing-coverts
rich bay, quills reddish-brown. Breast, belly, and
under parts pale yellowish-brown or light buff,
barred on the sides with two shades of reddish-
brown. legs, toes, and claws light yellowish-
brown.
The female is rather inferior in size to the
male, and the colours on the cheeks and wings
less distinct.
Situation and Locality.—On the ground amongst
mowing grass, clover, willow beds, and standing
corn all over the United Kingdom.
CORMORANTS.
30 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Materials.—Strong stems of dead grass and
leaves, with an inner lining of finer grass.
figgs.—Seven to ten; as many as twelve and
even fifteen have been met with, however. Pale
reddish-white or light buff, spotted, freckled, and
blotched with red-brown of various shades and ash-
erey. Size about 1:4 by 1:1 in.
Time.-—May and June, although nests with
eges in have been reported as late as September.
Remarks.—Migratory, although individuals re-
main all the year round in Ireland. Arrives in
April and May and departs in September and
October, although stragglers remain later. Notes:
Crake, crake. Local and other names: Landrail,
Meadow Crake, Corn Creak, Draker Hen. ‘The
bird sits close, and, as a consequence, individuals
sometimes get their heads cut off by the mower’s
scythe or machine.
CRAKE, SPOTTED.
Description of Parent Bird.—Length about nine
inches. Bill of medium length, straight, thick at
the base and pointed at the tip, yellowish-brown
in colour, with a brighter and redder tinge towards
the base. Jrides brownish-hazel. Crown hazel-
brown spotted with black in the middle; over each
eye is a patch of dull blue-grey; sides of head,
nape and sides of neck olive-brown spotted with
white. The feathers of the back are black, broadly
edged with dark olive-brown, and streaked up and
down with fine lines of white. Wing-coverts olive-
brown ; quills dark brown, mottled and barred with
white; rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail-quills
black, bordered with dark reddish-brown and spotted
with white. Chin grey-brown; throat and breast
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 31
dusky brown mottled with white; sides and flanks
ereyish-brown barred with white; under tail-coverts
buffish-white, legs and toes yellowish-green (toes
long), claws brown.
The female is a trifle smaller, and not quite
so distinctive in coloration.
Situation and Locality.—In a tussock of sedge,
amongst reeds and other vegetation growing in
marshes, bogs, and wet, swampy eround. The
foundation is generally in water. Sparingly along
the East Coast counties, in Wales, Cumberland,
one or two suitable parts of Scotland, and Ireland.
Materials.—Coarse aquatic plants, such as reeds
and flags in somewhat liberal quantities, and lined
with dry grass.
Eggs.—Seven to twelve. White, yellowish-grey,
or ocherous. Some authorities describe them as
being occasionally white tinged with green, or grey
tinged with pink, spotted with dark reddish-brown,
and underlying markings of grey. Size about 1:5
ony 8) aba
Time.—May is the principal laying month ; how-
ever, eggs have been found in April and right
through June.
Remarks.— Migratory and resident. The first
kind of birds arrive in March and depart in October.
Notes: whwit, whut. Local and other names:
Spotted Rail, Water Rail, Water Crake (this name
is also applied to the Dipper), Spotted Gallinule,
Spotted Water Hen. Slips quietly off nest and
hides amongst surrounding vegetation.
to
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
we
CREEPER, TREE:
Description of Parent Birds. — Length about
five inches. Bill rather long, curved downwards,
dark brown on the top, and dirty white, tinged with
yellow, underneath. Ivrides hazel. Crown dark
brown, spotted and streaked with pale brown.
Back of neck, back, and rump tawny-brown, mixed
with ash-grey. |Wing-coverts brown, tipped with
ereyish-yellow ; quills variegated with brown and
black, some of them tipped with light grey. ‘Tail
tawny-brown, the feathers being strong in the shaft,
and, from their help to the bird in climbing and
holding on to the bark of trees, often worn quite
bare at the ends. Chin, throat, breast, and belly
ereyish-white, inclining to rusty reddish-white on
the flanks and vent. Legs, toes, and claws, which
are very long, light brown.
The female is similar in size and colour to the
male.
Situation and Locality.—In a hole in a tree;
behind a loose piece of bark still clinging to a
decayed tree; amongst piles of stacked timber; in
niches and crevices of buildings, and behind half-
detached pieces of plaster. The one in our illus-
tration was placed behind a sound piece of the
outer shell of a decayed pollard. The bird could
either slip off from the front, or up a kind of
chimney, having its exit just under the face of the
inquisitive onlooker. In nearly all well-wooded
districts throughout the British Isles.
Materials.—Fine twigs, dead grass, sometimes
little chips of decayed wood, wool, moss, feathers,
and rabbits’ down.
Eggs.—Six to nine, white, spotted and speckled
with reddish-brown and sometimes dullish purple
UN
I
VW
Wx‘
A
Bh WG
SITE, (OF TREE CREEPERS NESa.
D
34 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
spots, generally in a kind of zone round the larger
end. Occasionally more distributed. Size about
“| Gola On ames Ef(e andl
Time.—April, May, and June.
vemarhks.—Resident. Notes: song not often
heard, but high, shrill, and not unpleasant. Local
and other names: Creeper, Tree Climber, Common
Creeper. Sits very closely.
CROSSBILL.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length from six
and a half to seven inches. Beak rather large,
upper mandible turned down and lower up. They
do not le in consequence in a straight lne over
each other, but cross like the blades of a pair of
scissors. The Crossbill varies more according to
age, sex, and individual than perhaps any other
British bird.
Swaysland gives the following description: ‘‘ When
young the male birds are greenish-brown, with a
tinge of olive, the whole being speckled with
darker brown; they are, however, lighter upon the
under-parts ; but after the first moult a red tinge
prevails, occasioned by the tipping of the feathers
with that hue. ‘The red is much darker upon
the upper-parts. At the second moulting these
colours are lost, and the bird’s plumage becomes
an olive-brown, shaded over with greenish-yellow
upon the back, though it is much lghter upon
the under-parts, and is speckled with orange upon
the breast and rump.
‘“The females are, however, either grey with a
little green on the head, breast, and rump, or else
speckled in an irregular manner with those colours.”
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 35
Professor Newton, in describing the male with
the second dress on, says: ‘‘A red male that had
completed his first autumnal moult had the bill
dull reddish-brown, darkest towards the tip of the
upper mandible; irides dark brown; the head,
rump, throat, breast, and belly tile-red; the feathers
on the back mixed with brown, producing a chest-
nut brown; wing and tail feathers nearly uniform
dark brown; vent and lower tail-coverts greyish-
white; legs, toes, and claws dark brown. . . .
Young females, after their first striated dress,
acquire a greenish-yellow tint on the crown and
the lower parts of the body mixed with greyish-
brown ; the rump and upper tail-coverts of primrose
yellow tinged with green; wings, tail, and legs
as in the male.”
A celebrated Continental authority, writing upon
the matter, says: ‘‘If the Crossbills are grey or
speckled, they are young; if red, they are one year
old and have just moulted; if carmine, they are
just about to moult for the second time ; if spotted
with red and yellow, they are two years old and
in full feather.”
Situation and Locality—On the branches of
Scotch and other fir-trees, sometimes quite close
to the bole or stem, at others some distance away
on a horizontal branch at varying heights from
the ground. Generally in plantations of cone-
bearing trees over the greater portion of England,
Scotland, and in Ireland, where suitable plantations
are to be met with. The bird is very sparsely
distributed, and uncertain in its patronisation of
recognised breeding haunts. It is most numerous
in the central counties of Scotiand.
Materials.—T wigs, roots, coarse dead grass, lined
internally with finer grass, hairs, and feathers. It
Dea
36 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
is similar in construction and appearance to that
of the Greenfinch.
Eggs.—Four to five. White, sometimes faintly
tinged with pale blue, very sparingly speckled with
reddish-brown and pale brown. Average size about
‘9 bye 76m:
Time.—Some English authorities say Iebruary
and March, others February, March, and April,
and Continental authorities December to April.
Remarks.—A winter visitor, but a few pairs
stay to breed. Notes: call, chip-chip-chip. Other
notes used whilst flying from tree to tree, soc-soc-
soc. Local and other names: Common Crossbuill,
Shell Apple, European Crossbill. A very close
sitter.
CROW, CARRION.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about
eighteen inches. Bill fairly long, strong, and black.
The base of the beak is covered with bristles,
which stand forward. These bristles and its hoarser
note distinguish it from the Rook. Indes dusky.
The whole of the plumage is black, glossed above
with a lustrous greenish sheen. Legs, toes, and
claws black.
The female is about the same size, but lacks
a little of the metallic lustre which characterises
the male.
Situation and Locality.—In high trees, gen-
erally on a large branch near the bole, and at a
good height from the ground, on the outskirts of
wood and plantations; sometimes on ledges of
cliffs. In England, Scotland, and the North of
Ireland. It is nowhere very numerous, as its
predatory habits make for it an uncompromising
CARRION CROW,
38 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
enemy in the gamekeeper. Our illustration is
from a photograph taken in Westmoreland.
Materials —Sticks and mud, lned with grass,
wool, horse and cowhatr.
Eggs.—Four to five, occasionally as many as
six, grey-green, blotched and spotted with ash-
colour or smoky-brown ; sometimes they are found
quite blue, and minus spots of any kind. They
are similar to those of the Rook and Raven, but
larger than the former and smaller than the latter,
and the position of the nest generally suffices to
distinguish them. Size about 1:65 by 1:2 in.
Time.—April and May.
2emarks.—Resident. Notes, a hoarse croak.
Local and other names, Crow Mussel (from its
habit of eating mussels), Doup, Gor Crow, Minden
Crow, Black-nebbed Crow. Sits lightly, and gen-
erally in such a position as to command a good
surrounding view.
CROW, GREY. See Crow, Hoopep.
CROW, HOODED. Also Grey Crow and
Royston Crow.
Description of Parent Birds. — Length about
twenty inches. Beak moderately long, pointed,
strong, and black; the base is covered by stiff
projecting feathers. vides dusky. Head, throat,
wines, and tail a shining blue-black. Nape, back,
rump, and under-parts generally dark slaty-grey.
Legs, toes, and claws a shining black.
The female is a little smaller in size, and the
slaty-erey parts of her plumage are tinged with
brown.
HOODED CROW
40 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Situation and Locality.—locks, cliffs, and trees.
An instance has been recorded of this bird’s build-
ing on the roof of a crofter’s hut. In Ireland, the
mainland of Scotland, and the islands to the west
and north. Our illustration was obtained on a
smail rocky island near Oban. The young ones
were ready to fly, and indeed did so on _ being
disturbed. The day was very hot, and distressed
them until they all gasped like hard-run spaniels.
Materials. — Sticks, twigs, heather, and ling,
with an inner lining of roots, moss, wool, hair or
feathers.
figgs.—Three to six; generally five, grey-green
in ground colour, blotched and spotted with varying
shades of olive or greenish-brown. Variable both in
regard to size, shape, ground colour, and colour of
markings. Size about 1°65 by 1:2 in.
Time.—March, April, and May.
vemarhs. — Resident, but subject to southern
movement in winter. Note, a hoarse croak. Local
and other names: Hoody, Dun Crow, Grey Crow,
Bunting Crow, Royston Crow, Greyback, Norway
Crow, Kentish Crow, Scarecrow. ‘The bird is a
light sitter, and often interbreeds with the Carrion
Crow.
CROW, ROYSTON. See Crow, Hoopern.
CUCKOO.
Description of Parent Birds. — Length about
fourteen inches. Bill rather short, slightly curved
downwards, and black, turning yellowish at the
base. Irides yellow. Head, nape, back, and upper
parts generally dark ash colour. Wing-quills dusky,
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 41
barred with white for some distance on their inner
webs. ‘Tail-quills greyish-black, especially the
middle feathers, tipped with white, and marked
with white spots. Chin, throat, and upper breast
pale ash-grey; lower breast, belly, vent, and under
tail-coverts white, marked with wavy, transverse bars
of black; the two last parts often have a reddish-
brown tinge. legs, toes, and claws yellow.
The female is very similar in appearance to the
male, but a little smaller in size.
Situation and Locality. — Deposits generally a
single ege in the nest of the Meadow Pipit, Pied
Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Hedge Sparrow, Sedge
Warbler, White-throat, Robin, Yellow Hammer,
Jay, and Martin, although the last two must be
rarely patronised.
Our illustration is from a photograph of a Pied
Wagtail’s nest, containing a Cuckoo’s egg, which
could only be distinguished by its greater size and
shape and, on being blown, its thicker shell. The
nest was situated about nine feet from the ground,
amonest ivy growing over a high garden wall. A
common summer visitor to all parts of the British
Isles. I have noticed that in the more elevated
parts of the North of England, Meadow Pipits rear
more young Cuckoos than all the other foster-
parents put together.
Materials.—N one.
Eggs.—It is certain that the bird lays more
than one ege; but although naturalists of good
repute have mentioned the number as five, and
others have been of opinion that even a_ larger
number may be laid, there is, so far as I know,
no reliable evidence to support either supposition.
I have never noticed that young cuckoos exceeded
in numbers the old ones, in a given district, where
42 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
I was out of doors all day long, every day in the
year, and many years together, in unbroken suc-
cession. But, of course, the number hatched could
never represent the number laid, although the place
to which I refer was singularly free from vermin
and collectors. A single egg is found in the nest
of a foster-parent, but occasionally two have been
seen, and in very rare instances even three; but
it is, of course, impossible to say whether they
were laid by the same bird. The egg of the
Cuckoo is small in size compared with its layer,
and varies very much in coloration, but, strangely
enough, often harmonises closely with those of
the bird in whose nest it is deposited. It is usually
reddish-grey, mottled and spotted closely, with
darker markings of the same colour, or pale greyish-
ereen, marked with spots of the same _ colour.
Size about ‘87 by °75 in.
Time.—April, May, and June.
remarks. — Migratory, arriving in April and
leaving in July, the young ones in August and
September. Notes: song, cuckoo, and a churring
note. Local and other names: Gowk, Common
Cuckoo. The young Cuckoo turns out all the
other members of the nest in which it is hatched,
an operation to which I was witness on one
occasion.
CURLEW, COMMON.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length varying
from twenty-one to twenty-two inches. Bull very
long, slender, curved downwards, and dark-brown,
paler at the base of the under mandible. Inrides
hazel. Head, neck, upper part of back, scapulars,
and wing-coverts pale brown, with a dark brown
CUCKOO’S EGG IN PIED WAGTAIL’S NEST.
(The one on the left is the Cuckoo’s Egg.)
df BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
streak in the centre of each feather. Wing-quills
black, spotted and marked with light brown on the
inner webs. Lower back and rump white, marked
by a few dusky spots. Upper tail-coverts white,
marked with dark brown; tail-feathers barred with
dull yellowish-white and dark brown. Chin white ;
throat and upper part of breast very pale brown,
marked with dark brown streaks; lower part of
breast, belly, vent, and under tail-coverts white,
spotted on the two first, with blackish-brown and
a dusky streak or two on the latter. Legs long,
and, like the toes, bluish-grey in colour.
The female is similar in plumage, but is larger,
sometimes even to the extent of five inches in
length.
Situation and Locality.—On the ground amongst
long, coarse grass, tufts of rushes and heath ; some-
times quite exposed on bare ground. On rough,
undrained pasture land, moors, «nd uplands in the
West and North of England, Wales, Scotland, and
Ireland. Our illustration is from a photograph
taken on the Westmoreland Hills, where these birds
are very common. We found a couple of nests
within a few yards of each other, the one containing
two, and the other three eggs; and the specimen
figuring on the page opposite was only just over
the wall in an adjoining pasture.
Materials. —A few short bits of dead rushes,
withered grass, or dead leaves, placed in some small
declivity ; sometimes nothing whatever.
Gggs. — Four, sometimes only three, varying
from olive-green to brownish-buff in ground colour,
spotted and blotched with dark green and blackish-
brown. Size about 2°65 by 1°85 in.
Time.—April, May, and beginning of June
sometimes.
COMMON CURLEW.
46 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
vtemarks.—Resident, but resorting to the coast-
line during winter. Notes: curlew, cwrlew, uttered
something like gurleck, gurleck, when the bird is
alarmed. Local and other names: Whaap, or
Whaup, Stock Whaap. )
Ee
RED! Gtk
110 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Materials—None whatever, the egg being laid
on the bare rock.
Hgg.—One, very large for the size of the bird,
and pear-shaped. ‘The eggs of this species present
an endless variety of coloration. Sometimes the
eround-colour is white, at others cream, yellowish-
green, reddish-brown, pea-green-blue, purplish-brown,
and every variety of shade between these colours,
spotted, blotched, and streaked profusely with black,
dusky brown, greyish-brown, and other tints in
great variety. Some specimens are without spots,
and I have seen others on Ailsa Craig and else-
where closely resembling those of the Razorbill, but
always more pyriform. Size about 3°25 by 1.95 in.
Tvme.—May and June.
Remarks.—Resident. Notes (of young): willock,
willock. Local and other names : Foolish Guillemot,
Willock, Tinkershere, Scout, Tarrock, Lavy, Murre,
Sea Hen, Marrock. A close sitter.
GUILLEMOT, BLACK.
Description of Parent Birds. — Length about
fourteen inches. Bill fairly long, straight, and
black. Jrides brown. ‘The whole of the plumage
is black, with exception of a large patch on the
coverts of each wing, which is white. Legs, toes,
and webs vermilion-red ; claws black.
The female is similar to the male in size and
coloration.
~ Situation and Locality—In deep crevices of
rocks overhanging the sea; amongst large stones
heaped loosely together; and occasionally under or
between crags and large fragments of rock near the
beach. Principally on the western and northern
COMMON GUILLEMOTS BREEDING ON THE PINNACLES
ISLANDS.
AT THE FARNE
112 BRITISH BIRDS” NESTS.
coasts of Scotland and the islands round about it,
in a few suitable places round the coast of Ireland,
and to a limited extent in the Isle of Man.
Materials—None; the eggs being laid on the
bare rock or ground.
Figgs.—Two, white, faintly tinged with green,
blue, or creamy-buff, spotted and blotched with
ash-grey, reddish or chestnut brown, and _ very
dark brown. Size about 2°35 by 1°6 in.
Time.—May and June.
Remarks.—Resident, but a southern wanderer
in winter. Notes: a plaintive whine. Local and
other names: Sea Turtle, Greenland Dove, Dovekie,
Seraber, T'yste, Puffinet. Gregarious. Sits closely.
Keeps to the open sea, except during the breeding
season and when driven ashore by stress of weather.
GULL, BLACK-HEADED.
Description of Parent Birds.—Leneth about. six-
teen inches. Bill moderately long, nearly straight,
and lake-red. ITrides hazel; eyelids crimson. Head
and upper part of throat dark brown. Back and
sides of neck white. Back and wings (except some
of the primaries, which are black at the tips, and on
some of the margins with white shafts), uniform
lavender-grey. Tail-coverts and quills white. Lower
front of neck, breast, and all under parts, white.
Legs and feet lake-red ; claws black.
The female is similar to the male.
The above description is of a solitary pair shot
whilst nesting in June on a northern moorland
tarn. The Black-headed Gull is subject to con-
siderable variation in plumage, not only in regard
to season but age.
The Bh
BLACK-HEADED GULL.
114 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Situation and Locality—On the ground, in a
tussock of coarse grass, tuft of rushes, or a slight
hollow on the bare ground; in swamps and _ bogs,
at the edges of and on islands in tarns and lakes.
In large colonies at a great number of suitable
places throughout the British Isles. wo famous
places in England are Scoulton Mere in Norfolk,
where the bird has nested in thousands for upwards
of three hundred years in succession, and at Pal-
linsburn in Northumberland. Although gregarious,
I have frequently met with solitary pairs nesting
on small mountain tarns. Our illustration is from
a photograph taken late in the season at Scoulton
Mere.
Materials.—Sedges, rushes, tops of reeds, and
withered grass; generally in small quantities, some-
times quite absent, and at others in fairly large
quantities, much depending upon the site chosen.
figgs.—Two to three ; usually the second number,
and occasionally four, varying from pale olive-green
to light umber-brown in ground-colour, blotched,
spotted, and streaked with blackish-brown and dark
grey. Size about 2:2 by 145 in. They are subject
to great variation in regard to size, shape, and
colour; but their small size generally and the pre-
sence of the parent birds easily distinguish them.
Time. — April, May, and sometimes as late as
June.
Remarks.—Resident, but subject to much local
movement. Notes: a hoarse cackle, resembling a
laugh when quickly repeated. Local and other
names: Red-legged Gull, Laughing Gull, Peewit
Gull, Blackcap, Sea Crow, Hooded Mew, Brown-
headed Gull, Mire Crow, Croker, Pickmire. Sits
lightly, and clamours noisily overhead when dis-
turbed. Gregarious, as a rule.
BRITISH BIRDS NESTS. 115
GULL, COMMON.
Description of Parent Birds. — Length about
eighteen inches. Bill rather short, slightly curved
downward at the tip, and yellow in colour. Ivides
orange-brown. Head and neck snowy-white. Back
and wings French grey ; tips of wings black, spotted
with white, on account of some of the primaries
having white ends. ‘Tail-coverts and quills snowy-
white. Chin, throat, breast, belly, and vent snowy-
white. Legs, toes, and webs greenish-yellow.
The female is similar in plumage, but slightly
smaller in size.
Sitwation and Locality.—On the ground amongst
heather and coarse grass; on ledges and in crevices
of rock round the coast of Scotland; on islands; in
inland lochs and tarns; also in suitable places in
Ireland, but now nowhere in either England or
Wales. Our illustration was procured on the West
Coast of Scotland.
Materials. — Heather, dry seaweed, and dead
grass. It may be observed that a somewhat large
nest is built as a rule.
figgs.——'Two to four; generally three, buffish-
brown or dark olive-brown in ground-colour, spotted,
blotched, and streaked with grey, dark brown, and
black, irregularly distributed. Size about 2:25 by
1°65 in. The smallness of the spots and the
size of the eggs enable collectors easily to identify
them.
Time.—May and June.
Remarks.—Resident, but subject to local move-
ment. Notes: a kind of squeal. Local and other
names: Winter Mew, Sea Mew, Sea Mall or Maw,
Sea Gull, Sea Cob, Blue Maa. Gregarious. . Ny . : : ;
B s i
eC Ny ~" oe
KS PS
_- ph
“it
ay
a
eae:
“/
NS
: : j -
— ee ~ Ane
ROBINS SNES UN TAS EE DG Ee seOmrtOMe CONTAINING VA:
YOUNG CUCKOO.
236 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
ROOK.
Description of Parent Birds. — Length from
eighteen to twenty-one inches. Beak large, strong,
arched towards the point, and black. NRound the
base of the bill in the adult bird the skin is bare,
scurvy, and light grey. ‘This feature readily dis-
tinguishes it from the Carrion Crow. Inides dark
brown. ‘The whole of the plumage is black, glossed
with rich purple on the upper-parts. Legs, toes,
and claws black.
The female is, as a rule, smaller and less brilliant.
Situation and Locality—Amonest the highest
branches of tall trees, in colonies or rookeries of
various sizes, throughout the country. I have seen
colonies of a dozen birds in an isolated clump of
ash trees away up in bleak hilly districts, and as
a contrast to this, it may be mentioned that in
1847 it was computed that Newliston Rookery,
near Edinburgh, contained no less than 2,663 nests.
Materials.—Sticks and twigs knitted and plastered
together with mud and clay, and lined with straw,
hay, or wool. ‘The bird is often very particular
about the kind of nest it constructs, and will pull
it to pieces and rebuild it several times. It is an
arrant rogue, and I have watched individuals steal
each others’ sticks. The old nests are sometimes
repaired in the autumn, and it is said eggs are
laid. Our illustration is from a photograph taken
in Westmoreland, and shows a cluster of two or
three nests built into each other.
Hggs.—F our to five, of a pale green or brownish-
green ground colour, spotted and blotched with
ereenish or smoky-brown. Average size about 1°68
by 1:18 in. Distinguished by bird’s gregarious habits.
ROOKS INE Sidas:
238 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Time.—February, March, April, and May; the
laying season varying according to the character
of the weather.
2emarks.—Resident. Notes, craaw. Local and
other names: White-faced Crow, Craa. Gregarious,
and a close sitter.
RUFF.
Description of Parent Birds—Wength about
twelve and a half inches. Baill long, - straight,
rather slender, and brown. Ivrides dusky brown.
The bird varies very considerably in plumage, one
eminent authority having examined two hundred
specimens and only found two alike. Yarrell says:
“The head, the whole of the ruff or tippet (long
plumes growing on the head and neck, and capable
of being raised so as to form a kind of shield), and
the shoulders of a shining purple-black, transversely
barred with chestnut; scapulars back, lesser wing-
coverts, and some of the tertials, pale chestnut,
speckled and tipped with black; greater wing-
coverts nearly uniform ash-brown; quill-feathers
brownish-black, with white shafts; rump and upper
tail-coverts white; tail feathers ash brown, varied
with chestnut and black; the feathers of the breast,
below the ruff and on the sides, chestnut, tipped
with black; belly, vent, and under tail-coverts
white, with an occasional spot of dark brown; legs
and toes pale yellow-brown ; claws black.”
The female is about two inches less in length,
lacks the ruff or tippet altogether, and although
not differing much in other plumage, is said to be
more uniform in colour as a sex.
Situation and Locality.—In a tuft or tussock of
some kind of coarse vegetation growing in some
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 239
wet, swampy place. The bird used to breed at
several places in England, but the reclamation of
land, the rquirements of gourmands, and, later, the
greed of the collector, have almost banished it
as a breeding species. It is now only known
to attempt to breed in Norfolk and Lincolnshire,
and it is doubtful whether the bird will long essay
the almost hopeless task.
Materials.—A tew bits of dead grass or leaves,
line the hollow in which the eggs are laid.
iggs.—¥our, varying from pale greyish-green to
olive-green or olive-brown in ground-colour, blotched
and speckled with greyish and rich liver-coloured
brown, generally most numerous on the larger end
of the egg. Size about 1:7 by 1:22 in. Somewhat
similar to those of the Redshank, though greyer
and not quite so yellow in ground colour.
Tume.—May and June.
temarks.—Migratory, arriving in April and May
and departing about September. Notes, hack, kick.
Local and other names: Reeve (female), Fighting
Ruff, Shore Sandpiper, Greenwich Sandpiper, Yellow-
legeed Sandpiper, Kquestrian Sandpiper. Sits closely.
SANDPIPER, COMMON.
Description of Parent Birds. —Length seven and
a half inches. Bill rather lone, straight, slender,
dark brown towards the tip and lightish brown at
the base. Irides dusky brown; from the base ot
the beak a light streak runs over the eye and ear-
coverts. Crown, back of the neck, back, wing-
coverts, and upper tail-coverts greenish-brown, with
a line of a darker hue across and down the centre
of each feather. Wing- primaries nearly black
240 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
with dirty white patches on nearly all the inner
webs, the secondaries tipped with white. ‘T'ail-quills
greenish-brown in the centre, barred with greenish-
black, the outer webs of the two outside feathers
on either side white, barred with greenish-black.
Chin, throat, breast, belly, vent, and under tail-
coverts white ; sides of the neck and upper portion
of the breast duller, and streaked with dark brown
or dull black. Legs and toes pale bluish-green ;
claws dark brown.
The female resembles the male.
Situation and Locality.—On the ground; in a
hole in a bank, under the shelter of a tuft of grass,
in a tuft of rushes; sometimes in a slight declivity
on the bare ground, or in a patch of grass amongst
large stones on a little river island; on the banks
of rivers, mountain streams with rough, gravelly,
and rocky banks, lakes, tarns, and reservoirs, in the
extreme South-west of England (Cornwall, Devon,
and Somerset), Wales, Derbyshire, the six northern
counties Scotland, and its surrounding islands,
and Ireland. Our illustration was procured in
Mull.
Materials.—Short pieces of dead rushes, some-
times dead leaves, with an inner lining of fine dry
erass.
Hggs.—¥our, pale straw to creamy-yellow in
ground colour, with dark brown spots and blotches
on the surface, and underlying markings of lght
brown and grey. Size about 1°5 by 1:08 in.
Time.—May and June.
Remarks.—Migratory, arriving in April, and
departing in September, although individuals may
be seen later. Notes: wheet, wheet, wheet. Local
and other names: Summer Snipe, Sand Lark, Willy
Wicket, Sand Lavrock, Spotted Sandpiper. Sitting
COMMON SANDPIPER.
242 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
qualities variable, some individuals sitting closely
and others lightly, irrespective of the condition of
the eggs.
SANDPIPER, WOOD.
The appearance of this bird, even as a visitor,
is neither frequent nor regular. It has been found
breeding with us only twice, at the outside, during
the last forty years, so that it does not call for
special attention here.
SCOTER, COMMON. Also Brack Scormr.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about
twenty-one inches. Bill of medium length, swollen
into a knob at the base, and flattened at the tip.
It is black, with the exception of a ridge of yellow,
which commences half an inch from the tip and
extends to the base. Indes dusky brown. ‘The
plumage is deep’ black all over, somewhat glossy
about the head and neck. Legs, toes, and webs
dusky, darkest on the last.
The female lacks the knob on the bill, and her
plumage is duller.
Situation and Locality.—A hollow scraped in the
ground or some natural declivity, hidden by low,
growing shrubs or sheltering heath ; on small islands
near lochs and rivers, not far from the sea, in the
most northern counties of Scotland.
Materials.—Twigs, heather, stalks, dead leaves,
and dry grass, with an inner lining of down. The
tufts are brownish-grey with pale centres, are large,
a little darker than those of the Mallard, and
much more so than those of the Goosander.
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 243
Higgs.—Six to nine, pale greyish-buff or yellowish-
white, sometimes slightly tinged with green, smooth
surfaced. Size about 2°5 by 1:78 in.
Time.—May and June.
Remarks.—A winter visitor principally. Is said
not to breed until it is two years old. Notes: call, a
grating kr-kr-kr. One authority represents the call-
note of the male as té-ti-ti-ti, and the response
of the female as re-re-re-re-re. Local and other
names: Black Duck, Black Scoter, Black Diver.
Sits closely, and covers its eggs when leaving
them voluntarily.
SCOTER, BLACK. See Scormr, Common.
SHAG.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about
twenty-seven inches; bill rather long, hooked at
the tip, and black. The gape extends behind the
line of the eye, and the naked skin about it is
black, spotted with chrome-yellow. Ivides green,
The forehead bears a curved-forward kind of crest,
which makes its appearance early in the spring.
Head and neck, all round, rich dark green, glossed
with purple and bronze sheen; back and wing-
coverts dark green, with a more intense margin of
the same colour round the border of each feather ;
wings and tail black; breast, belly, and under-parts
generally the same as the head and neck; legs,
toes, and claws black.
The female resembles the male.
Situation and Locality.—Crevices, fissures, and
caves in sea cliffs ; sometimes on ledges or amongst
Q 2
244 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
the boulders of the rock-strewn beaches of small
islands, Pretty generally round our coasts, where
suitable accommodation is to be found, but principally
on the west coast of Scotland. The illustration
on p. 59 represents a cave in which a number of
pairs of this bird, Rock Doves, and a pair of
Herons were breeding in the outer Hebrides.
Materials.—Seaweed and twigs, lined with grass,
the whole plastered and befouled with droppings
and decomposing fish. Where conditions admit, it
is a bulky structure.
Higgs—Two to five, generally three; pale green,
almost wholly covered by a chalky substance, which
soon becomes discoloured. The eggs resemble those
of the Cormorant closely, but are usually a trifle
smaller in size. he situation of the nest and
presence of birds readily distinguish them. Average
measurement 2°45 by 1:5 in.
Tvme.—May and June.
Remarks.—Resident, but subject to local move-
ment. Note, a harsh guttural croak. Local and other
names: Crested Shag, Crested Cormorant, Green
Cormorant. Shag and Cormorant are names fre-
quently interchanged by seamen and coast dwellers.
Gregarious. A bold and fairly close sitter.
SHEARWATER, MANX.
Description of Parent Birds.—Uength about
fourteen inches; bill rather long, straight, except at
the tip, where it is curved downwards, and blackish-
brown, lighter at the base. Irides hazel. Head,
nape, back, wings, and tail brownish-black; chin,
throat, breast, belly, vent, and under tail-coverts
white. The sides of the neck are barred transversely
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 245
with grey and white. A patch of brownish-black
is situated behind the thigh on each side; legs,
toes, and webs flesh-colour, tinged with yellow.
The female is similar to the male, but shghtly
smaller.
Situation and Locality.—At the end of a burrow,
generally excavated by the bird, and varying from
two to ten or twelve feet in depth, in crevices, and
under pieces of rock; sometimes in a small hole
scratched out between two stones. In the Scilly
Islands, on the islands to the west of Scotland,
and in suitable places off the Irish coast. It is
possible that its peculiar habit of keeping out of
sight during the day and only coming forth at
night may have conduced to some of its nesting
haunts having been overlooked. The bird is known
in one case to have been driven away from its
nesting stations by Puffins, and in another by rats.
Materials.— Sometimes a few dead fern-fronds,
or blades of dried grass, at others nothing what-
ever.
Egg.—One; pure white, smooth, and large for
the size of the layer. Size about 2°4 by 1-65 in.
Time.—May and June.
temarks.—Resident, but subject to much local
movement, except during the breeding season.
Notes, said to be a guttural melody, delivered in
their holes, and resembling crew cockathodon. Local
and other names: Shearwater Petrel, Manx Puffin,
Cuckle, Skidden, Scraib, Fachach, Lyrie, Scrapire.
Gregarious. A close sitter.
SHELDRAKE, COMMON. See SHELDRAKE.
24.6 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
SHELDRAKE. AJ/so Common SHELDRAKE 07"
Burrow Duck.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length twenty-
four to twenty-six inches; bill fairly long, thick
at the base, depressed in the middle, slightly
hooked at the tip, and red in colour. On the
top of the upper mandible, at the base, is a large
fleshy knob. Ivrides reddish-brown. Head and
upper parts of neck dark green; lower half of
neck white all round; upper parts of breast and
back, rump, wing, and upper tail-coverts white ;
scapulars and a portion of secondaries blackish ;
outer webs of inner secondaries rich chestnut.
On the last-named feathers is a patch of rich
purple green; primaries almost black; tail-quills
white, except at the tips where they are black ;
in the middle of the lower breast and belly the
feathers are dark brown; sides, flanks, vent, and
lower tail-coverts white; legs, toes, and webs
flesh-colour.
The female is rather smaller and duller in colour,
Situation and Locality.—Rabbit burrows are the
favourite haunts of this bird, although it is said
sometimes to dig its own burrow or adopt that of
a fox or badger; holes under rocks and ruins at
various depths, sometimes four or five feet in, at
others as many as twelve. In low sand-hills and
dunes at various suitable places on the east and
west coasts, such as Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire,
Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Lancashire,
and Cheshire; on various parts of the coast of
Scotland, Orkney Islands, Hebrides, and Ireland.
Our illustration was obtained in the Hebrides.
Materials—Dry grass, bents, and down from
;
en ger ratok est
RAF bred)
SHELDRAKE.
248 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
the bird’s own body. ‘The tufts are lavender-grey,
mixed with a few white ones.
EHggs.—Six to sixteen, generally ten to twelve ;
white, slightly tinged with cream colour. Size about
2°7 by 1:9 in. Nest distinguished by down-tufts.
Time.—April, May, and June.
Remarks.—Resident. Notes: male call, a deep
korr-korr ; female, a loud quack. Local and other
names: Sly Goose, Bargander, Burgander, Burrow
Duck, Skeeling Goose, Common Shieldrake, Skel-
goose. The nest is very difficult to find; but a
good way to accomplish this is to look out for
footprints in the sand at the entrance to likely
holes, also to watch the movements of the male
during flight, and any suspected hole morning and
evening when the birds leave and enter. I have
generally been astir at three o’clock in the morning
for that purpose, and the subject of our picture
was discovered not long after that hour by the
aid of my binoculars. Sits closely.
SHOVELLER.
Description of Parent Birds—Length about
twenty inches. Bill rather long, narrow in the
middle, and widening towards the tip, nearly
straight, and leaden grey. Irides yellow. Head
and upper part of neck deep glossy green, lower
part of neck white. Back, in the centre, blackish-
brown, the feathers bemg edged with a_ lighter
tint. Lesser wing-coverts light blue, greater white ;
scapulars white, quills brownish-black. The speculum,
or glossy patch upon the wing, is green. Rump,
upper tail-coverts, and tail-feathers brownish-black.
Breast and belly chestnut; vent white; under tail-
SHOVELLER.
250 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
coverts black. Legs, toes, and webs reddish-orange ;
claws black.
The female differs considerably from the male,
having her head and neck mottled with two shades
of brown; the feathers on the upper surface of the
body are dark brown in the centre, bordered with
a lighter shade of the same colour. Under-parts
of the body pale brown.
Situation and Locality.—In tufts of grass, rushes,
and heath beside sluggish rivers, lakes, broads,
tarns, and swampy heaths, in favourable situations
on the eastern coast of England; also in Scotland
and Ireland. Our illustration is from a photograph
taken in Norfolk.
Materials.—The little hollow chosen is lined with
sedges and dead leaves, dry grass, and, as incubation
advances, down. The tufts are of a dark neutral
grey colour, lighter in the centre and tipped with
white. They and the female form relable dis-
tinctions.
Hggs.—Seven to ten, or occasionally fourteen,
buffish-white, tinged with green, unspotted, and
slightly polished. Closely resemble those of the
Mallard and Pintail. Size about 2:0 by 1:5 in.
Time.—May.
vemarks.—Resident and migratory, being more
numerous in winter than in summer. Notes: quack,
uttered in deeper tones by the male; when flying,
puch, puck. Local and other names: Broad Bill,
Blue-winged Shoveller. Sits closely.
SHRIKE, RED-BACKED.
Description of Parent Birds——Wength about
seven and a half inches; bill rather short, hooked
RED-BACKED SHRIKE.
bo
52 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
at the tip, and black or dusky brown, lighter at
the base of the lower mandible. Near the end of
the upper mandible is a prominent tooth or notch.
Irides hazel. Three or four strong black bristles
spring from just above the gape. ound the base
of the upper mandible, through the eyes, and as far
as the ear-coverts, the feathers are black ; crown and
back of neck grey; back and wing-coverts bright
reddish-brown ; wing-quills dull black margined with
reddish - brown; upper tail -coverts reddish - grey;
tail-quills, in centre, black tipped with white, rest
white on the basal half, and black from thence to
the end, which is slightly tipped with white ; chin
grey; breast, belly, and under-parts of a rosy
tinge, with the exception of the under tail-coverts,
which are white; legs, toes, and claws dusky
black.
The female is very much less conspicuous in
her plumage. Her beak is not so dark in colour;
over her eye is a yellowish-white streak; her
upper-parts dull rusty brown, tinged with grey on
the neck and tail-coverts; chin, throat, breast,
and under-parts greyish-white, barred with greyish-
brown.
Situation and Locality.—In high rough hedges,
thorn bushes in woods, and on rough commons.
Our illustration is from a photograph of a nest in
a slight thorn bush, surrounded by hazels and big
trees in a small Surrey spinney, where I meet with
a nest every year regularly. I found a Red-backed
Shrike’s nest in a low bramble bush, intermixed
with rushes, two years ago close to London. ‘The
nest was not more than eighteen inches from the
eround, and within a few feet of a much-used turn-
pike lane. The cock bird was so bold that he
came within four feet of me as I stood looking at
bo
Or
su)
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
his mate sitting upon her eggs. Breeds pretty
generally over England, with the exception of the
extreme north, but is rarely met with in Scotland
or Ireland.
Materials——Slender twigs, dead grass, stalks,
dead weeds, honeysuckle stems and stalks, roots,
wool, moss, and sometimes feathers, lined with hair,
sometimes with willow catkins and fine, fibrous
roots. As a rule it is a very large nest for the
size of the bird; but I have noticed that specimens
differ in this respect as well as in the character
of the materials employed in their construction.
figgs.—Your to six, generally four or five ; very
variable in ground colour and markings; pale
buffish-white, spotted, freckled, and blotched with
pale reddish-brown, and underlying markings of
grey or salmon colour, marked with light red and
lilac-grey. Some varieties are white, greyish-white,
yellowish-white, or greenish in ground colour. As
a rule, the markings form a ring round the larger
end. Size about -9 by -66 in.
Lime.—May and June. I once found one at
the beginning of July.
Remarks.—Migratory, arriving in May and de-
parting in August or September. Note: call, a
harsh croak; song, a mixture of the notes of the
Goldfinch, Blackeap, Nightingale, and other birds
frequenting its vicinity, according to Bechstein.
Local and other names: Jack Baker, Murdering
Pie, Whiskey John, Butcher Bird, Flusher, Cheeter.
A close sitter.
SHRIKE, WOODCHAT.
A rare and accidental visitor, which is said to
have bred once or twice in the Isle of Wight.
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
bo
Or
vse
SISKIN.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length nearly five
inches. Bull short, conical, sharp-tipped, and orange-
brown. Irides dusky brown. ‘Top of head black ;
over and under each eye is a yellowish streak. Sides
of head yellowish-green; nape and wings (except
greater coverts and quills, which are brownish-
black, tipped and bordered with yellow) greenish-
olive, streaked with black; rump yellow; upper tail-
coverts greenish-ohve. Tail shghtly forked, and
dusky black, yellowish on the upper half, with the
exception of the middle pair of feathers. Chin
black, throat and breast yellowish-green ; belly, sides,
flanks, vent, and under tail-coverts, greyish-white,
streaked with dusky black. Legs, toes, and claws
brown.
The female is smaller, and lacks the black on
the crown and chin. Her upper-parts are olive-
brown, throat and breast greenish-yellow, and rest
of under-parts greyish-white. With the exception
of the centre of the belly she is streaked all over
with dusky black.
Situation and Locality.—In plantations, woods,
and forests. Its nest has been found on very
rare occasions in different parts of England, in
furze and juniper bushes; but in Scotland, where
it breeds sparingly, it adopts higher situations
amongst the forks and branches of fir-trees.
Materials.—Slender twigs, dried grass, and moss,
lined internally with hair, rabbit or vegetable down,
and sometimes a few feathers.
EHggs.—¥our to six, greyish-white, tinged with
green or pale bluish-green, spotted and speckled
with rusty and dark brown spots, sometimes streaked
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 255
with the darker colour. The markings are generally
scattered over the surface of the eggs, but are
sometimes collected round the larger ends. They
resemble those of the Goldfinch very closely indeed,
but are said to run larger, and the ground colour to
be of a darker tinge. The situation of the nest and
a sight of the owner are the only reliable evidences,
however. Size about ‘66 by °52 in.
Tume.—April, May, and June.
Remarks.—A winter visitor of erratic appearance ;
a few resident. Notes: call, a metallic keet; alarm
note, chuck-a-chuck, keet. Some naturalists represent
the call-note as a weak ¢it-tit-tit-tit, and tsyzing,
others as a loud deedel or deedlee. Local and other
names: Aberdevine (used by bird-catchers), Barley
Bird. Nest difficult to find. A close sitter.
SKUA, COMMON. Also Sxva, Grear.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about
twenty-four inches. Bill of medium length, hooked
at the tip, and with bare skin round its base, black.
Irides dark brown. Head and neck dark umber
brown, slightly streaked with lighter brown: back,
wings, and tail-coverts dark brown, streaked with
light reddish-brown. In some specimens the feathers
at the nape, and the middle and edges of those
on the back, are greyish-white. The wing-quills
are white at the base and blackish-brown towards
the tip; tail-quills very dark brown. Chin and
front of neck, breast, belly, vent, and under tail-
coverts dusky rust colour. Legs, toes, and webs
black ; claws large, much curved, strong, and black.
Situation and Locality.—On the ground, amongst
moss or heather; in the Shetland Islands only,
256 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
where, in spite of protection, we were told, during
our visit to the outer Hebrides, that not a single
young bird was reared during 1894.
Materials —Sometimes a few bits of grass are
used as a lining; at others nothing is placed in
the hollow or cavity. Some nests are said to be
made of dead lng, moss, and dry grass.
Hggs.—Two, occasionally only one, varying from
heht buff to dark olive-brown, blotched and spotted
with dark brown and rusty or greyish-brown. Size
about 2°85 by 1:95 in. Similar to Lesser Black-
backed and Herring Gulls, but markings are fewer
and duller, and presence of parent birds readily
settles the point.
Time.—May and June.
Remarks.—Migratory, arriving at its breeding
haunts in April and leaving in August. Notes:
ag-ag and skua. Local and other names: Great
Squa, Bonxie, Brown Gull, Skua Gull, Morrel Hen.
Gregarious. It is said by one observer to prepare
several nests before deciding in which to drop its
eggs. Sits lightly.
SKUA, GREAT. See Sxua, Common.
SKUA, RICHARDSON’S.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about
twenty inches. Bill moderately long, strong,
straight, except at the tip, where it is hooked,
bluish lead-colour at the base, and blackish else-
where. Irides dark brown. This bird is subject
to considerable individual variation, and there are
two distinct and well-marked varieties, known as
bo
a |
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
“light”? and ‘ dark,” which interbreed freely. The
dark variety is more common in low latitudes, and
the light one in high latitudes, as might be expected.
Mr. Seebohm, in describing the bird, says :—‘ In
the adult of the dark form, the whole of the plumage
is an almost uniform dark sooty brown, slightly
suffused with slate-grey on the upper-parts, and with
a bronzy yellow on the sides of the neck.
“Tn the adult of the light form, the slate-grey
of the upper-parts is a little more pronounced than
in the dark form. The general colour of the under-
parts is white, shaded with brown on the sides
of the breast, the vent, and the under tail-coverts ;
the white on the throat extends round the sides
of the neck and across the lower ear-coverts, almost
to the nape, and is suffused with yellow. Legs and
feet black.”’
The female is, so far as is known, indistinguishable
from the male, except that the elongated feathers
of the tail are somewhat shorter.
Situation and Locality —On the ground, amongst
heather, moss, and coarse grass, in the moorland
parts of the Orkneys, Shetlands, Hebrides, and in
one or two places on the extreme northern mainland
of Scotland. Our illustration is from a_photo-
graph taken in the outer Hebrides.
Materials—Dried grass and moss, used as a
scanty lining to the hollow in which the eggs are
laid: sometimes none used at all.
Eggs.—Two ; as many as three have been found,
and, upon occasions only one. Varying in ground
colour from dark olive-green to brownish-green,
irregularly spotted and blotched with differing shades
of dark brown and greyish-brown, generally dis-
tributed over the entire surface of the egg, but
sometimes most numerous at the larger end. ‘They
R
258 BRITISH BERD Seas LS:
closely resemble some of the Gulls’ in appearance,
and the only safe method of identification is to
watch the parent bird on or off the nest. Size about
23 by A-62 im
Tvume—May and June.
Remarks.—Migratory, arriving in May and de-
parting in August and September. Notes: mee and
mee-awk, represented by some authorities as hyow
and yah-yah. Local and other names: Arctic Gull,
Arctic Skua (also applied to Long-tailed or Buffon’s
Skua), Shooi, Scoutie-Allen, Black-toed Gull. Sits
lightly, and is gregarious.
SKYLARK.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about seven
inches. Bill of medium length, straight, strong, and
dark brown. Ivrides hazel; crown dark brown, the
feathers being edged with a lighter and redder tinge,
and somewhat elongated, forming a crest which is
erectable at will. Back of neck, back, wing and tail-
coverts reddish-brown, each feather being bordered
with a pale tint. Wing and tail-quills dusky brown,
with lighter edges and tips. Throat and breast light
cream-colour, spotted with dark brown ; under-parts
pale straw-colour, tinged with brown on the thighs
and flanks. Legs, toes, and claws brown; middle
toe largest, and hind claw very long and curved.
The female is not quite as large as the male, but
is similar in her plumage.
Situation and Locality.—Under tufts of grass,
ling, and heath, sometimes on the plain open
ground, in a slight declivity. Our illustrations
are from photographs of a nest on the crown of a
furrow, and under a tuft of grass. The former was
S SKUA.
RICHARDSON’
R
260 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
procured in Surrey and the latter in Yorkshire. In
cultivated and uncultivated districts throughout the
United Kingdom, but not in woods and plantations.
Materials.x—Grass, roots, and horsehair, the
latter two often quite absent and the first used
sparingly.
figgs.—Four to five, of a dirty white ground
colour, occasionally tinged with olive-green, thickly
spotted and speckled with olive-brown, and under-
lying markings of greyish-brown. The markings are
generally so thickly and evenly distributed as to
hide the ground colour, but occasionally, the mark-
ings are less thickly distributed and collected in a
kind of belt at the larger end of the ege. Size
about °93 by *68 in. Distinguished from Woodlark
by crowded olive-brown markings.
Time.—April, May, June, and July.
vemarks.—Resident, though subject to partial
migration and much local movement. Notes: song
consists of several strains, trilling, warbling notes,
variously modulated, and interrupted now and again
by loud whistling. Local and other names: Lavrock,
Field Lark. GSINS(else ISOM NGUNO/S}
294 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
(Sandwich, Arctic, and Common) rose in a perfect
cloud, and whirled round and round, for all the
world lke a thick shower of snow played upon
by fickle gusts of wind. Small colonies breed at
various points on the Scottish and Irish coasts,
also at Walney Island, off Lancashire, and at Raven-
glass, in Cumberland.
Materials.—Generally none; sometimes, a few
bits of dead herbage, and occasionally even a
liberal supply of dry grass is used.
Higgs.—Two to three, usually the former number ;
varying very much in colour, from creamy-white
to buffy stone-colour, spotted, blotched, and clouded
and scrolled with grey, deep rich brown, and chest-
nut. JI saw one on the Farne of a uniform dark
brown, although its fellow egg was of the normal
coloration. Size about 2:1 by 1:4 in. Size of
parent birds and eggs prevent confusion with those
of any other 'Tern.
Time.—May and June.
Remarks.—Migratory, arriving in April and May
and departing in August. Note, a hoarse and
grating kind of kirhitt or kirhit. Local and other
names: Great Tern. Gregarious, sits lightly, and
flies round the intruder, uttering its hoarse cry.
THICKNEE. See Curtew, Stone.
THRUSH, COMMON. See T'HRusH, Sona.
THRUSH, MISSEL. 4/so Misrueror THrusn.
Description of Parent Birds.— Length about
eleven inches; bill moderately long, slightly curved
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 295
downwards, and dark brown, with a yellowish tinge
at the base of the lower mandible. Ivides_ hazel.
Top of the head, nape, and back, light brown ; rump
yellowish-brown ; wings dark brown, the coverts
being tipped and the quills edged with wood-brown ;
the tail is darkish brown, two or three of the out-
side feathers being tipped with gereyish-white ;
cheeks, chin, throat, breast, and under-parts straw
colour or yellowish-white, lightest on the belly and
vent; the throat and breast are marked with
triangular spots of blackish-brown, and the belly
with roundish ones of the same colour; legs and
toes light brown; claws brownish-black.
The female is similar to the male. Easily dis-
tinguished from Song Thrush by its larger size.
Situation and Locality.—Generally near the top
of a tree, where the trunk ends and two or three
strong branches spring from it, or on a strong bough
close to the trunk, at varying heights from the
eround, but seldom or never in the position of the
Song Thrush. In woods, plantations, parks, and
tree-fringed streams all over the United Kingdom.
I have met with its nest much oftener in the north
of England than either in the south or east, and
have noted its partiality for a lichen-covered ash
tree. It isa brave bird, and I have seen it sitting
on its eggs when one side of the tree has been
plastered white with wind-driven snow. Our illus-
tration was procured high up amongst the West-
moreland nulls.
Materials. — Slender twigs, grass stems, wool,
moss, and mud, with an inner lining of fine dry
erass. The wool often hangs down from the sides
of the nest in long conspicuous rags.
EHggs.—F our to six, according to some authorities.
Mr. Dixon, however, says never more than four.
296 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Mr. Seebohm says they very rarely exceed four,
and in but very few cases are less. Messrs.
Dresser and Sharpe say the number is generally
five, sometimes four; Waterton says generally
five; Macgillivray, usually four, or from three to
five. I have certainly heard of more than four;
but although I have taken and examined a goodly
number of nests, I personally never saw more.
They vary in colour, some being greyish-green
with underlying markings of grey, and blotches
and spots of reddish-brown. Others are reddish-
erey in ground colour, with brownish-red markings,
which vary in size and distribution. Size about
iS by <3. 1m:
Time.—February, March, April, May, June, and
July. J have found them in every month but the
last.
Remarks.— Resident, but subject to southern
movement in winter. Song loud and defiant, but
not considered of much value by bird-fanciers, as
it is said to be melancholy and made up of five
or six broken strains; alarm note, a jarring kind
of scream. Local and other names: Holm Thrush,
Storm Cock, Holm Screech, Mistletoe Thrush,
Missel Bird, Bell Throstle, Screech Thrush. Sits
pretty closely, and makes a great deal of demonstra-
tion when disturbed.
THRUSH, SONG. Also THrusH ov Common 'T'HRUSH.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about eight
and a half inches. Bill of medium length, nearly
straight, and dusky. Inides hazel. Head, nape,
back, wings, rump, tail-coverts, and quills yellowish-
brown, spotted with darker brown on the sides
MUSSITIC, AMSUR USS
298 BRITISH BIRDS? NESTS.
of the head, and edged with a lighter tinge on the
wing-quills. Throat, breast, and under-parts pale
tawny yellow; lighter on the vent and under tail-
coverts. ‘The space from the throat to the thighs
is studded with arrowhead-like spots. Legs and
toes pale brown; claws darker.
The female is smaller than the male, and the
spots on her breast are larger and the ground colour
hehter.
Situation and Locality.—In evergreens, especially
early in the spring, hedgerows, bushes, in ivy growing
against walls and trees, in holes and on ‘‘ throughs”
of dry walls; on ledges of rock, on beams and in
holes of barns, and sometimes quite on the ground ;
in woods, plantations, on commons, hedges, trees
and bushes growing by the side of brooks. Our
illustration is from a photograph taken early in
the spring. Throughout the British Isles, with
few exceptions, and those where no cover is afforded.
Materials.—Iwigs, coarse grass, moss, and clay,
with an inner lining of cow-dung or mud ; sometimes
thickly studded with bits of rotten wood.
Hggs.—¥ our to six, of a beautiful deep greenish-
blue, spotted with black. The spots sometimes
describe a well-defined ring round the larger end,
at others they are sparingly scattered over the
egg, and in rare cases are absent altogether. Very
variable in size. Average measurements about 1:05
by. +S ime
Time.—February, March, April, May, June, and
July ; sometimes as late as August, and even October.
I have seen the bird bravely covering her eggs when
the ground has been thickly mantled in snow.
Remarks.—-Resident, subject to local movement,
and partially migratory. Notes: call, sth, sth, stk, sch,
siki, tsak, tsak. The song of the cock is well known
300 2RITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
and highly esteemed. In North Yorkshire it is
verbalised as Pay thy debt, pay thy debt, skitting
Mick, skitting Mick. local and other names:
Throstle, Mavis. Sits closely, and protests loudly
against molestation.
TIT, BEARDED.
Description of Parent Birds.—ULength just over
six inches, the tail forming about half of this; bill
short, upper mandible slightly curved downwards,
and yellow. Ivides yellow. Crown bluish-grey ;
nape, shoulders, back, and rump, golden brown ;
wings black and greyish, the feathers being bordered
and tipped with white and deep rusty red; upper
tail-coverts and tail, which is graduated and wedge-
shaped, deep rufous brown, some of the outer
feathers being tipped and edged with white and
ereyish white. A black patch extends from the
base of the bill to half way over the eye and,
passing downwards, ends in a tuft of elongated,
tapering black feathers growing from the side of
the chin and throat very hke a moustache. Centre
of chin and throat dirty white ; breast flesh-colour ;
belly and vent like the back, but brighter; under
tail-coverts black; legs, toes, and claws black.
The female has the crown dull rusty brown ;
tufts on the sides of the chin pale brownish-fawn ;
chin and throat mixed with light brown; breast
of a hghter tinge than in the male; and under
tail-coverts pale golden-brown.
Situation and Locality.—Near the ground, in a
tuft of coarse grass, nettles, or sedge; sometimes
amongst broken-down reeds, but never suspended
between stems of any kind. It is well hidden,
but now, alas! only known for certain to be built
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 301
amongst the extensive reed-beds and marshes round
the Norfolk Broads, from whence it is likely to
become banished at no distant date. Indeed, it is
rumoured that the severe winter of 1894-5 has
annihilated it.
Materials—Dead aquatic vegetation, such as
leaves of reeds and blades of sedges, lined with
fine grass and seed-down. It 1s cup-shaped.
Hggs.—Your to seven, white, faintly tinged with
cream colour, and marked with small specks, short
irregular streaks and splashes of dark brown. Size
about ‘7 by ‘56in. Distinguished by situation, size
of eggs, and streaky markings.
Time.—March, April, May, June, and July.
Remarks.—Resident, but subject to local move-
ment. Notes shrill and musical when alarmed.
They also utter a clear silvery note before alighting.
Local and other names: Reed Pheasant. Sits
closely, and is difficult to see on account of its
habit of hiding amongst reeds.
TIT, BLUE.
Description of Parent Birds.—Leneth from four
to four and a half inches. Bill short, strong and
dusky. Irides dark brown. Crown clear blue,
under which runs a band of white on either side.
From the base of the beak, through the eyes, passes
a bluish-black line. Cheeks white; a broadish circle
of dusky blue runs round from the back of the head
to the throat, where it becomes almost black. Back
and rump lemonish-green; wings and tail blue,
the former marked with white on the coverts and
tertials. Chin and throat blue-black ; breast, belly.
302 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
and under-parts yellow. Legs, toes, and claws dull
leaden-blue.
The female is less brilliant and distinctive in her
coloration.
Situation and Locality.—In holes in trees, walls,
banks, and often in such queer places as disused
pumps, letter-boxes, stone bottles, flower-pots, boxes
and cocoanuts, hung in trees for its accommodation.
Our illustration is from a photograph of a nest in
a hollow fruit tree. The entrance to the nest was
in the centre of a decayed branch which had
been sawn or broken off close to the trunk, at
the place where the dark excrescence-like growth
appears, the hole through which the eggs are to be
seen being cut artificially through the wood, so as
to show its exact position. In barns, stables, cot-
tages, orchards, gardens, woods, and cultivated dis-
tricts generally, throughout the United Kingdom,
with exception of the islands lying to the West and
North of Scotland.
Materials.—Grass, moss, hair, and wool; some-
times a few soft leaves woven together, with an inner
lining of feathers. I have met with specimens
containing few or none of the last.
Higgs.—Six to nine, sometimes as many as eleven
or twelve, white, spotted with light red or red-brown,
sometimes evenly distributed, at others most nu-
merous at the larger end. Size about -6 by 46 in.
A sight of parent birds only will definitely settle
identification.
Time.—April, May, and June.
Remarks. — Resident. Note: a peculiar twe-
twe. Local and other names: Tomtit, Blue Tom-
tit, Billy Biter or Willow Biter, Blue Bonnet, Blue
Cap, Blue Mope, Hickwall, Nun, Titmal. A close
sitter, hissing lke a snake when disturbed.
304 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
TIT, GOAL.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about four
and a half inches. Bill short, straight, pointed, and
black. Ivides hazel. Head, neck, and upper part of
breast black ; cheeks and nape white. Back, wing-
coverts, rump, and tail greyish-blue, with a buffish
tinge on the rump. Wing-quills brownish-grey,
bordered with green. Lower breast dull white ;
belly, flanks, vent, and under tail-coverts fawn
colour, slightly tinged with green. Legs, toes, and
claws black.
The female closely resembles the male. This
bird is easily distinguished from the Marsh Tit
by means of the white patch on the nape of its
neck.
Situation and Locality.—In holes, from three or
four to sixteen or eighteen inches deep, in trees,
walls, and banks; those in the last-named situations
having originally belonged to rats, mice, or moles.
The bird will, however, enlarge any selected hole for
its accommodation, if necessary. It may be found
in orchards, spinneys, coppices, woods, and planta-
tions throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and
Treland.
Materials.—Dry grass, moss, wool, and_ hair,
hned liberally with feathers.
Eggs.—Five to ten, generally seven or eight,
white, spotted and freckled with lght red, the
markings being generally most numerous at the
larger end. ‘They bear a very close resemblance
to those of other members of the Tit family, but
a sight of the parent birds will readily distinguish
them. Size about °62 by -47 in.
Time.—April, May, and June.
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 305
Remarks — Resident. Note: a harsh, shrill
che-chee, che-chee. Local and other names: Cole-
mouse, Coal Titmouse, Coalhead. Sits closely, and
hisses when molested.
Tt, ‘CRESTED:
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about four
and a half inches; bill short, straight, and almost
black. Ivrides hazel. The feathers on the top of
the head, especially behind, are lengthened, and
form a conspicuous crest; these feathers are dull
black in colour, tipped with light grey; back,
wings, rump, and tail, brown, the quills being some-
what darker. A black streak runs from the base
of the beak to the eye, and passes onward between
the base of the crest and the ear-coverts to the
nape, from whence a broader black, curving line
descends behind the cheeks and ends abruptly on
the sides of the neck. Cheeks white, spotted with
black. The black line just described is followed
beneath by a broader band of white, which in turn
gives place to a narrower curving black line, descend-
ing from the back of the head, and, passing in front
of the point or shoulder of the wing, joins the black
on the upper breast; chin, throat, and upper breast
black; lower breast, belly, and flanks dull white,
suffused with buff on the sides; under tail-coverts
dull buff; legs, toes, and claws lead-grey.
The female resembles the male, except that her
crest is shorter, and the black on her chin, throat,
and upper breast occupies less space.
Situation and Locality.—Holes in the trunks,
branches, and old stumps of trees. The hole is
situated from a few inches to ten or twelve feet
U
306 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESI'S.
from the ground, and is sometimes dug by the bird’s
own exertions. On the Continent it patronises the
deserted nests of Crows and old squirrel dreys. It
breeds in old pine, fir, and oak forests m oss,
Banff, Perth, Inverness, and possibly one or two
other favourite localities in Scotland only.
Materials —Dead grass, moss, feathers, and
down of hares and rabbits.
Hggs.—¥ ive. Professor Newton says that they
do not seem to exceed five in number. Mr. Dixon
gives the figures as from five to eight, and Mr.
Morris from seven to ten. Possibly the last is the
result of some Continental information, as it 1s
said the bird lays from eight to ten eggs there.
White, spotted, blotched, and speckled with red
of varying shades; the spots are generally most
numerous round the larger end. Size about °65 by
‘51 in. A sight of the parent birds and locality of
the nest are the only safe means of identification.
Time.—April, May, and June.
Remarks.—Resident and very local. Notes, sz,
st, st, followed by a spluttering note like ptur, re,
re, re, ree, according to Mr. Seebohm. Local and
other names: Crested Titmouse. Sits closely.
TIT, GREAT.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about five
and three-quarter inches; bill of medium length,
nearly straight, and black. Jrides dusky. Head
black; cheeks white; nape greenish-yellow, sur-
rounding a whitish spot; back olive green; rump
bluish-grey ; wing-coverts bluish, the larger being
tipped with white; quills dusky, edged with light
ereenish-blue; tail quills dusky, the outer feathers
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 307
on each side being edged with white; breast and
belly yellow, tinged with green and divided longi-
tudinally by a broad black stripe, which commences
at the chin, and passing down the throat, is joined
by the black on the sides of the neck, and extends
to the vent, which is white on either side; lower
tail-coverts whitish; legs, toes, and claws bluish-
erey.
The female is not so distinctive in coloration ;
the black stripe on her under-parts is not so wide
or pronounced, and vanishes about the middle of
the belly. She is also said by some ornithologists
to be smaller.
Situation and Locality.—In holes in trees, walls,
posts, banks, and buildings. The bird will excavate a
hole for itself in a rotten tree sometimes. It also
occasionally fixes its abode beneath the nest of a
Crow, Rook, or Magpie. The hollow tree shown in
our illustration is resorted to as a nesting site nearly
every year by this bird, whose little abode has
been recorded in a drinking-cup and a plant-pot.
In orchards, gardens, yards, well-timbered commons,
woods, plantations, parks, and other wooded places
throughout the United Kingdom with few ex-
ceptions.
Materials.—Dry grass, moss, hair, wool, and
feathers, somewhat carelessly put together. Some-
times no materials at all. Montagu and Morris
supposed that where materials were dispensed with
altogether, the bird had had her first eggs and nest
taken, and had not had time for more nest-building.
This theory, I am pleased to be able to say from
my Own experience, is perfectly sound. A _ year
or two back I took a nest and eggs, quite fresh,
from a hollow apple-tree, and passing by the old
orchard a little while after I found that the bird
u 2
308 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
had laid a second clutch of eggs on the rotten
powdered wood at the bottom of the hole.
Hggs.—F¥ive to twelve, generally seven or eight;
white in ground colour, spotted and freckled with
pale red. The markings vary in size, number,
intensity, and position. Sometimes they are
generally distributed, at others they form a zone
at the larger end of the egg. They are larger than
the eges of any other Tit, but are likely to be con-
fused with those of the Nuthatch if care is not
taken. Size about -7 by °53 in.
Time.—April, May, and June.
Remarks.—Resident. Notes, a clear, pealing
pinker, pinker, repeated several times. Local and
other names: Oxeye, Pickcheese, Great Black-
headed Tomtit, Blackcap, Great Titmouse, Bee-
biter, Tom Collier, ‘‘Sit-ye-down.”’ Sits closely, and
hisses when disturbed.
TIT, LONG-TAILED.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about five
and a half inches, of which the bird’s abnormally
long tail forms a considerable part ; bill very short,
curved above and below, and black. Inrides hazel.
Forehead and crown white. A black streak of
variable width commences near the base of the
bill and, passing over the eye and ear-coverts, meets
on the back of the neck, and descending forms a
kind of triangle, the lowest point of which reaches
the middle of the back. The scapulars and rump
are suffused with a dull purplish-red; wing-coverts
and quills black, the inner ones of the latter edged
with white; upper tail-coverts and six centre quills
black, the remainder of the feathers on either side
of the tail being more or less white. The feathers
UNE WWE ZN IPYNINR (@ys’ (EnRvay/Nap
ISKOVLILIONA7 JNIPIPILID, AN RVS)S,
eS INES ASN ON TPASE eave
310 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
of the tail are much graduated in length, those in
the centre being about an inch and three-quarters
longer than those on the sides. Cheeks and ear-
coverts white, the latter mixed with grey. Chin,
throat, breast, belly, and under-parts greyish-white,
tinged with purplish-red on the sides, flanks, vent,
and under tail-coverts; legs, toes, and claws almost
black.
The female is somewhat similar, with the excep-
tion of her head, which has more black upon it;
however, both sexes are subject to variation in the
intensity of coloration.
Situation and Locality.—In whitethorn hedges,
sloe, gorse, and wild rose bushes. I have a specimen
taken from a bramble bush, which is very similar
to a bottle. Our illustration is from a _ photo-
graph of a nest situated in a low, thick hedge
near London. It is found in nearly all suitable
locahties throughout the British Isles.
Materials.—Moss, lichens, wool, spiders’ webs,
cunningly felted together, and skilfully formed into
an oval-shaped nest, which is plentifully Imed with
feathers and securely fastened to its surroundings.
Higgs.—Seven to ten; as many as twenty have
been found, but such a number was undoubtedly
the production of two hens. White or rosy-white
until blown, by reason of the yolk showing through
the delicate shell, with very small, fait red or
reddish-brown spots, sometimes collected round the
larger end, at others sparingly scattered over the
entire surface ; occasionally without spots altogether.
size about ‘57 by -44 in. The smaller number of
spots, the character and situation of the nest, and
the appearance of the parent birds readily identify
the eggs of this Tit.
Tyume.—March, April, May, and June.
WANES I_) arly
LONG
312 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Remarks.—Resident. Notes, a sharp chirrup
or twitter, varied by a lower and hoarser note.
Local and other names: Mufflin, Poke Pudding,
Longpod, Bottle Tit, Oven-builder, Caper Long-
tail, Long-tail Pie, Long-tailed Capon, Bottle Tom,
Mum Ruffin, Long-tailed Mag, Huckmuck (a name
also applied to the Willow Warbler), Longtailed
Muffin, etc. Sits closely, with the tip of her tail
protruding from the hole.
TIT, MARSH.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about four
and a halfinches. Bull short, straight, sharp-pointed,
and black. Irides dark hazel. Forehead, crown,
and nape deep black. Back, wing-coverts, and upper
tail-coverts ashy brown, mixed with a greenish
tint. Wing and _ tail-quills greyish-brown, with
edges of a lghter tinge. Cheeks dirty white; chin
black; throat and breast dull greyish-white ; belly
and vent of the same colour, tinged with brown.
Legs, toes, and claws bluish-black.
The female is similar in appearance to the male.
The bird may be easily distinguished from the Coal
Tit by its having no white on the nape or wing-
coverts.
Situation and Locality.—Holes in trees, preferably
pollards, gate-posts, walls, and banks, at no great
height from the ground. Instances are on record
of rabbit-burrows and rat-holes doing duty as nesting
sites. In orchards, woods, by the side of sluggish
rivers, and in hedgerows of cultivated districts.
It is met with in most parts of England, suitable
to its habits. Scotland and Ireland can both claim
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 315
it, but it is somewhat scarce, especially in the
northern parts of both countries.
Materials—Moss and fine dried grass, lined
with wool, teathers, hair, rabbits’ down, ripe
catkins of the willow, the whole being compactly
knitted together, and tightly wedged into the
situation chosen for their reception.
Hggs.—Six to ten, white, spotted with reddish-
brown, more thickly at the larger end. The spots
are variable in size, number, and distribution. They
very closely resemble those of the Creeper, Blue Tit,
Coal Tit, Nuthatch, and Great Tit, although, as
a rule, they are somewhat smaller than the last.
Size about 63 by -49 in.
Time.—April, May, and June.
Remarks.—Resident. Notes: all, chee-chee or
peh, peh, uttered quickly, and several times in
succession, and a kind of whistle, made use of
only in the spring, according to Montagu. Local
and other names: Black Cap, Little Black-headed
Tomtit, Willow Biter, Coalhead. Sits closely, and
hisses and bites when disturbed.
TWITE. Adso Mountain Linner.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about five
and a quarter inches; bill short, broad at the base,
and pale yellowish flesh colour. TIvides hazel.
Crown, neck, back, and upper tail-coverts dark
brown, the feathers being edged with heght rufous-
brown; rump purplish-red; wing and tail quills
very dark brown, more or less edged on the outer
webs with white. The feathers round the base of
the beak and below the eyes tile-red; sides of the
head dark brown, edged with a lghter tinge; chin
314 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
and throat rufous, lighter on the breast and sides,
which are speckled with brown; belly nearly white ;
vent tinged with brown; under tail-coverts almost
white ; legs, toes, and claws dusky; tail slightly
forked.
The female is lighter coloured on her upper
parts, and lacks the red on her rump.
Situation and Locality.—Amongst tall heather,
ling, brushwood, and furze. Sometimes quite on
the ground against the side of a bank or by a stone
in moorland districts in the North of England,
Scotland and the surrounding islands, and Ireland.
Our illustration is from a photograph taken on a
small island near Oban, where we found several
nests.
Materials.—T wigs, fibrous roots, grass stalks and
blades, moss, and wool, with an inner lining of
feathers, hair, or down.
Hggs.—Four to seven, generally five or six;
very similar, indeed, to those of the Linnet. Pale
bluish-green, spotted and streaked with reddish-
brown and dark brown; sometimes streaked with
the lighter reddish tinge. Some authorities say
that they are a little more streaked, and that the
hght red markings are less frequent than in those
of the Linnet. The markings are generally most
numerous on the larger end of the egg. Size
about -69 by °5 in. Easily distinguished by the
appearance of the parent birds.
Time.—May and June.
Remarks.—Resident in its breeding haunts, but
a winter visitor to the more southern portions of
England. Notes, twite; the cock has a pleasing
little song. Local and other names: Mountaim
Linnet, T'wite Finch, Heather Lintie. Sits closely.
316 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
WAGTAIL, BLUE-HEADED.
Description of Parent Birds—Length about six
and a half inches; bill fairly long, slender, straight,
and black. Irides dullish brown. Crown and nape
bluish-grey ; scapulars, back, and upper tail-coverts
ereemsh-olive, suffused with yellow; wing-coverts
and primaries dark brown, the former, as well as
the tertials, bordered with greyish-yellow. The
tail is black in the centre and white on the
outer edges. Over the eye and ear-coverts is
a white streak, also one of shorter dimensions
under the eye; ear-coverts bluish-grey; chin and
cheeks white; throat, breast, belly, vent, and under
tail-coverts golden yellow; legs, toes, and claws
black.
The female is somewhat smaller and less brilliant
and distinctive in coloration. The bird may be
distinguished from the Yellow Wagtail, which it
closely resembles, by its bluish-grey head and the
white streak over the eye and ear-coverts.
Situation and Locality.—On the ground, amongst
meadow grass, on hedgerow banks, amongst the
exposed roots of trees, in pastures, grass meadows,
and cornfields, according to Continental observa-
tions.
Materials.—Dead grass, moss, and fibrous roots,
lined with horsehair.
Eggs.—¥our to six, usually five; quite similar
to those of the Yellow Wagetail; greyish-white,
suffused, mottled, or spotted with varying shades
of brown; sometimes marbled with a few fine lines
of dark brown. Size about ‘78 by ‘56 in.
Time.—May and June, according to Messrs.
Dixon and Miller Christy; but these months are
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 317
either based upon Continental observations or
deductions from the laying season of the Yellow
Wagetail.
ftemarks.—About forty specimens of the Blue-
headed Wagtail have been procured in this country,
shot in January, April, June, and October. Its nest
has only been met with on one or two occasions
at Gateshead, but it is thought that from its close
similarity to the Yellow Wagtail it has often been
overlooked. Call note, chit-up. ocal and other
names: Grey-headed Wagtail. There is, so far as I
can gather, no precise information forthcoming as to
whether the bird is a close sitter or not.
WAGTAIL, GREY.
Description of Parent Birds. —Lenegth about seven
and three-quarter inches, nearly half of which is
accounted for by its unusually long tail. Bill of
medium length, nearly straight, and dusky brown.
Trides dark hazel. Crown and sides of head bluish-
grey; # narrow white streak runs over the eye
and ear-coverts. Back of neck, back, scapulars, and
rump bluish-grey ; wing-coverts black, or very nearly
so, tipped with buffish-white; quills black, some
of the inner ones edged on the outer webs with
yellowish-white, and liberally marked on the inner,
towards the base, with white. Upper tail-coverts
greenish-yellow ; tail black, yellowish on the edges
of the centre feathers towards the base; the two
outside quills on either side white, with the exception
of a narrow black line on the outer web of the second
feather. Chin and throat black, separated from the
sides of the head and neck by a white line; breast,
318 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
belly, and under-parts bright yellow. Legs, toes, and
claws pale brown.
Situation and Localitya—On shelves of rock, in
crevices, in rough, rocky, and uneven banks, holes
in stone walls, behind or under large stones, rarely
far away from water. It is very local, and, like the
Dipper, seems to lay claim to a certain length of
stream. I know two waterfalls on moorland becks in
the North of England where a Dipper and a Grey
Wagtail nest almost yearly within a few yards of
each other. I have known the bird on one occasion
become foster-parent to a young Cuckoo. It breeds
in the western and northern counties of England ;
in Wales, Scotland, and in parts of Ireland. Our
illustration was procured in Westmoreland.
Materials. — Rootlets, grass, and moss, lned
with horse and cow hair; sometimes a few
feathers.
Higgs.—Four to five, occasionally six, of a greyish-
white ground colour, spotted and speckled with
pale brown. Sometimes the ground colour is buffish
and the markings creamy-brown. Occasionally a
few streaks of dark brown are present. Size about
‘75 by *56 in. Much like the eggs of the Yellow
and Blue Headed Wagtails, also Sedge Warbler,
but easily identified by locality, situation, and a
sight of the parent birds.
Time—April, May, and June.
Remarks.—Resident, but subject to local migra-
tion. Notes: sztszi or zisy, sharply uttered. Local
and other names: Dun Wagtail, Nanny Washtail,
Grey Wagster. Sits closely, and when disturbed
hovers round with her mate, uttering a note of
alarm.
GREY WAGTAIL.
320 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
WAGTAIL, PIED.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about seven
and a half inches, several of which are accounted
for by the somewhat abnormally long tail. Bill
moderately long, nearly straight, slender, and black,
Irides dusky. Forehead, sides of head, round the
eyes, and a portion of the sides of the neck, white.
Latter half of crown, nape, back, and upper tail-
coverts black ; wing-coverts black, edged and tipped
with white; quills black, some of them bordered
with greyish-white and white; tail-quills black,
except the two outside feathers, which are nearly
all white. Chin, throat, sides, and flanks black;
breast, belly, and under-parts white. Legs, toes, and
claws black.
The female is somewhat smaller, and dusky grey
on the back, where the male is black.
Situation and Locality.—In ivy, growing against
walls and trees, in holes in dry walls, bridges, niches
of rock, on ledges, and tufts of grass growing from
crevices of rock; in faggot, hay, and brick stacks,
and numerous other situations, generally near fresh
water, throughout the British Isles. It has been
recorded in such curious situations as a potato top,
and under a railway switch. Our illustration is from
a photograph of a nest situated inside a _ reed-
thatched Norfolk boat-house.
Materials—Dry grass, roots, and moss; some-
times a few dead leaves or fern-fronds, with an imner
lining of wool, feathers, horsehair, cowhair, and
rabbit down. The materials vary both in quantity
and character, according to situation.
Hggs.—F our to six, greyish-white, thickly speckled
with ash-grey or light brown. ‘hey vary a good
PIED WAGTAIL,
322 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
deal, according to the tint of the ground colour,
size of the spots, and their colour. Those in the
nest represented were of a bluish-white, marked
all over with small ash-grey spots. Size about °8
by ‘6 in. Indistinguishable from those of the White
Wagtail or certain varieties of the House Sparrow,
except by the parent birds in the former case and
the nest and its position in the latter.
Time.—March, April, May, and June.
Remarks.—Resident, but with a southern winter
movement. Notes: chiz-zit, chiz-zit. local and
other names: Dishwasher, Black and White Wag-
tail, Washtail, Nanny Washtail, Wagster, Water
Wagtail, Washerwoman. Sits rather closely.
WAGTAIL, WHITE.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length nearly eight
inches. Bill of medium length, straight, and black.
Crown and nape black; back, scapulars, and upper
tail-coverts French or light ash-grey. Wings
brownish-black, each feather having a broad outer
margin of greyish-white. ‘Tail-quills black, with
the exception of the two centre feathers, which are
margined with white, and the two outer feathers
on each side, which are white, with black inner
webs. The front and sides of the head, together
with a patch on either side of the neck, are white.
Chin, throat, and upper part of the breast, black.
Lower breast, belly, vent, and under tail-coverts
white. Legs, toes, and claws black.
The female is less distinctive in coloration. Her
forehead and cheeks are not so pure a white ;
throat mottled with white; black on back of head
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 323
occupies less space, and her back is tinged with
olive.
Situation and Locality.—Similar in all respects
to those of the Pied Wagtail.
Materials.—The same as are employed by the
bird just named.
figgs.—F ive to seven, of a wider colour variation
than those of the Pied Wagtail, according to Mr.
Dixon. The ground colour varies from pure white
to bluish-white, speckled all over with different
shades of grey and brown; sometimes a few hair-
like lines occur at the larger end. The markings
vary, both in regard to size and distribution, and
there can hardly be any safe means of identification
apart from the difference in the parent birds. Size
about ‘8 by -6 in.
Tyme.—April, May, and June.
Remarks.—Migratory, but little is known as to
its comings and goings. Although a common bird
on the Continent, only a few well-authenticated
instances of its breeding in the British Isles are
on record, and those in the southern counties of
England. It is, however, thought that it may
often have been overlooked from the fact that its
general appearance and eggs are so similar to those
of the Pied Wagtail, to all except the practical
and experienced ornithologist. Notes: call, chiz-zit.
Local and other names: Grey and White Wagtail.
Said to sit pretty closely. The male differs from
that of the Pied Wagtail in being grey on its
upper-parts below the nape instead of black, but
the females of the two species only differ in
that of the White Wagtail being “‘pearl-grey or
very light ash-grey tinged with olive,’ and that
of the Pied Wagtail being ‘‘lead-grey mottled
with darker feathers”? on those parts.
We
O24 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
WAGTAIL, YELLOW.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about six
and a half inches. Bill moderately long, straight,
slender, and black. Irides hazel. Crown, nape,
back, and scapulars light olive. Wing-coverts and
primaries darkish-brown, the first-named being
tipped, and the tertials bordered and tipped with
greyish-yellow. Upper tail-coverts olive ; tail-quills
brownish-black, with the exception of the two outer
feathers, which are white, streaked with black on
the inner web. Over the eye and ear-coverts is a
line of golden-yellow. Chin, throat, breast, belly,
and vent a bright golden yellow. Legs, toes, and
claws black.
The female is much less handsome, her head and
back being darker, and the yellow of her breast
and under-parts not nearly so bright.
Situation and Locality.—On the ground, in the
shelter of a tuft of grass, heather, or coarse herbage;
sometimes behind the long grass of an overhanging
bank, well hidden. J know several places in the
North of England where pairs breed year after
year with unbroken regularity. In grass meadows,
pastures, commons, and other suitable places, pretty
generally throughout England, except Cornwall and
Devonshire. It is much more numerous, according
to my observations, in the north than in the south
and east; also in the south of Scotland, and, to a
very limited extent, in Ireland. ‘The bird is very
wary, and the nest difficult to find. I have watched
a pair for three or four hours through my binoculars,
and when able to locate the nest pretty closely have
still failed to find it.
Materials.—Dead grass, fibrous roots, and moss,
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 325
with an inner lining of horse or cow hair, feathers, or
down.
Higgs.—Four to six, generally five, ground colour
greyish-white, mottled and spotted with varying
shades of brown; sometimes marbled with blackish-
brown at the larger end. The markings are thickly
distributed over the surface of the egg. They
are very similar to those of the Blue-headed
Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, and Sedge Warbler. The
difference poimted out in regard to the plumage of
the first in describing it, and the situations of the
two latter ought to prevent confusion. Size about
(8) by aos an,
Time.--Some very good authorities say April,
but I have never met with a nest so early. May,
June, and July.
temarks.—Migratory, arriving in March or April,
and leaving in September. Notes: tzee-tzee, sipp-
supp. Local and other names: Cowbird, Ray’s
Wagtail, Yellow Wagster. Sits lightly, and, although
by no means shy, is very wary.
WARBLER, DARTFORD.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about five
inches, nearly half of which is accounted for by
the bird’s exceptionally long tail; bill fairly long,
slightly curved downward, and blackish, with the
exception of the base of the lower mandible and
along the edges of the upper, which are orange.
Irides light or dark red, according to age. Head,
neck, back, and upper tail-coverts greyish-black ;
wings blackish-brown, the quill-feathers being bor-
dered with a lighter tinge; tail blackish-brown, the
external feathers being broadly tipped with grey ;
326 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
chin, throat, breast, and sides chestnut-brown ;
belly white; under tail-coverts. slate grey; legs
and toes pale reddish-brown; claws darker.
The female resembles the male, except that she
is more tinged with brown on her upper- and lighter
on her under-parts. The chestnut-brown does not,
however, extend so far down the breast.
The Dartford Warbler has the power of partly
erecting the feathers on the head, so as to form a
kind of crest.
Situation and Locality—In the lower parts of
thick furze bushes; very locally and sparingly on
commons and other places covered by furze bushes,
principally in the counties along the south coast
of England. It was at one time not supposed to
nest north of the Thames, but Mr. Dixon has
proved that it does so as far north even as York-
shire. It is not found either in Scotland or
Treland.
Materials.—Small and slender branches of furze,
crass stalks, bits of moss and wool, with an inner
lining of fine grass, and sometimes a few horsehairs.
It is somewhat sheht of build, and has been hkened
to that of the Whitethroat.
EHggs.—Four to five, greenish or buffish-white
in ground colour, speckled all over with dark olive-
brown, and underlying markings of grey, which
generally become more dense at the larger end, and
form a kind of zone. ‘There is very little difference
indeed between the eggs of this bird and those of
the Whitethroat, except that the markings are more
conspicuous. Size about °68 by °5 in.
Time.—April, May, and June.
Remarks.—Resident. Notes: pit-et-chou-cha-ch-
cha. Local and other names: Furze Wren. Sits
close, and slips away quietly.
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 32
WARBLER, GARDEN.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about six
inches; bill faily long, straight, strong, and dark
brown in colour. Irides hazel. Head, neck, back,
wings, and tail uniform lght brown, slightly tinged
with olive; chin, throat, breast, belly, vent, and
under tail-coverts dull brownish-white, dark on the
throat and breast, and light on the belly; legs,
toes, and claws purple-brown.
The female is similar to the male in appearance.
Situation and Locality.—Generally a few feet
from the ground in thorn bushes, briars, brambles,
gooseberry bushes, nettles, and peas. Sometimes
lower down in coarse grass and taller wild plants.
In woods, clumps of trees growing beside streams,
shrubberies, thick hedges, orchards, and gardens,
sparingly, in suitable localities nearly all over
England. It also breeds in one or two parts of
Wales, in the southern parts of Scotland, and in
different parts of Ireland.
Materials.—Straws, blades of grass, fibrous roots,
sometimes a lttle wool or moss, and lined with
horsehair. It is a somewhat flimsy structure.
figgs.—Four to six, generally four or five, vary-
ing in ground colour from white to greenish-white
or yellowish stone-grey, blotched, spotted, and
clouded with brown of various shades; deep olive,
with underlying markings of ash-grey. The mark-
ings are variously distributed, occasionally being
congregated at the larger end. Some specimens
are marbled with brown. Size about -77 by °6 in.
Often indistinguishable from those of the Blackeap,
except by a sight of the parent birds.
Time.—May and June.
328 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
Remarks. — Migratory, arriving in April and
May, and departing in September or October.
Notes, song, deep, harmonious, and mellow; call,
tee. Local and other names: Pettychaps, Fauvette,
Greater Pettychaps, Fig Bird. Sits closely.
WARBLER, GRASSHOPPER.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about five
and a half inches; bill of medium length, straight,
strong, and brown in colour. Irides brown. Crown,
nape, back of neck, back, and wings olive-brown,
the centre of each feather being of a darker tinge;
tail rather long, much rounded at the tip, and
brown, barred with a paler tinge of the same colour ;
chin, throat, breast, and all under-parts pale brown,
darker on the flanks. The neck and breast are
spotted with darkish brown; legs and toes pale
brown; claws heht horn colour.
The female is very similar to the male, but is
said to lack breast spots.
Situation and Locality.—On or near the ground
under furze and other small bushes, in tufts of tall
rank grass growing at the foot of hedgerows, and
similar situations affording plenty of cover. In
woods, on commons, fens, clumps of trees with
plenty of undercover, thickets, and coppices. Pretty
generally throughout England and Wales, but more
sparingly distributed in Scotland and Ireland. The
position of the nest and the skulking, mouse-lke
habits of its owner make it very difficult to find.
Materials.—Strong dry grass and moss, with an
inner lining of finer grass. The nest is pretty deep
and well built.
Haqgs.—Four to seven, pale rosy-white, profusely
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. 329
spotted and speckled all over with reddish-brown.
Sometimes the markings are more numerous at
the larger end, and occasionally a few thin, haut-
like streaks are present. Size about -72 by -54 in.
Time.—May, June, and July.
Remarks.— Migratory, arriving in April and May,
and departing in September. Notes: call, tic, tic;
song, a chirping noise, similar to that made by
a grasshopper, but louder and longer. Local and
other names: Reeler, Cricket-bird, Grasshopper Lark.
Leaves the nest quietly and quickly, and hides in
the surrounding undergrowth.
WARBLER, MARSH.
Description of Parent Birds.—This bird very
closely resembles the Reed Warbler, and it is only
within recent years that it has been admitted to
be a distinct British breeding species. Mr. Harting
has done much to establish this fact, and specimens
have been seen and procured in different parts of
the country. Length about five and a half inches.
Bill shorter and broader than in the case of the
Reed Warbler, nearly straight, dark brown above,
and pale brown below. Inrides hazel. Mr Seebohm,
who has had special facilities for examining speci-
mens, describes the bird as follows, in his admirable
work on British Birds :—
‘“The Marsh Warbler has the general colour of
the upper-parts varying from olive-brown in spring
plumage to earthy brown in summer, with a scarcely
perceptible shade of rufous after the autumn moult,
slightly paler on the rump. The eye stripe is nearly
obsolete, and the innermost secondaries have broad ,
ill-defined pale edges. The breast, flanks, and under
330 BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS.
tail-coverts are pale buff, shading into nearly white
on the chin, throat, and the centre of the belly.
Legs, feet, and claws horn colour.”
Dresser and Sharpe say that this Warbler has
the legs of a pale flesh-brown, and that those of
the Reed Warbler are dark slaty-brown.
The female resembles the male, but is somewhat
smaller in size.
Situation and Locality.—A celebrated Continental
authority says that the nest is situated in low bushes,
overgrown with nettles, reeds, and other plants, and
that unlike the Reed Warbler, which builds its nest
amongst the reeds growing from the water, this bird
builds its nest amongst vegetation growing from the
bank of a stream or pond, and is never situated
over water. The nest is placed from a few inches to
several feet from the ground in swamps and other
places affording plenty of rough undergrowth cover.
It has been met with in the West of England and
in the Fen country.
Materials.—Dry grass-stems, dead leaves, moss,
and downy-fibre, with a lining of horsehair. ‘The
nest is said not to be so deep as that of the Reed
Warbler, and to lack the wool which is so often
used by the last-named bird.
Eggs.—Four to seven, varying in ground colour
from greenish-white to greenish-blue, moderately
clouded and spotted with olive-brown, and underlying
markings of grey. ‘The spots vary in size, intensity,
quantity, and disposition, but are generally most
numerous at the larger end of the egg. Their paler
ground colour generally distinguishes them from
those of the Reed Warbler. Size about -72 by
‘54 in.
Time.—June and July.
Remarks.—Migratory, arriving in May and depart-
BRITISH BIRDS’ NESTS. dd
ing in August. Notes: call and alarm, very similar
to those of the Reed Warbler, but the song is
said to be far finer, more melodious, and varied. It
is delivered during the night in a similar way to
that of the Nightingale. Local and other names,
none. Not a very close sitter, but wonderfully
adroit in shpping off the nest and hiding in sur-
rounding vegetation.
WARBLER, REED. Also Reep Wrev.
Description of Parent Birds.—Length about five
and a half inches. Bill fairly long, strong, nearly
straight, dark horn colour on the upper mandible,
and lighter on the under, which is yellowish at
the base. Inrides light yellowish-brown.
ee eee
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