THEIR REPRODUCTION (NESTS) 255 



is generally an open cup-shaped structure of 

 varying degrees of depth, containing abundance 

 of material and warmly lined. The usual mate- 

 rials are twigs, straws, dry grass, moss, wool, 

 vegetable down, hair, and feathers ; whilst some 

 species garnish their nests with lichens, cobwebs, 

 bits of paper, and so forth. In some nests some 

 of the above-mentioned materials predominate, 

 and vice versa. Some of the Finches are rather 

 untidy builders, others are marvellously neat. 

 What, for instance, could be more slovenly than 

 the nest of the House Sparrow, especially when 

 made in a covered site ; whilst what could pos- 

 sibly be neater than the lovely little nest of the 

 Goldfinch or the Chaffinch ? Incidentally we 

 should mention that the House Sparrow builds a 

 double type of nest, domed when in trees, more 

 or less open when in holes. The situation of 

 the nest varies considerably, some species build- 

 ing in bushes, trees, hedges, buildings, or even 

 cliffs (as for instance the House Sparrow), others 

 seeking sites on the ground or amongst tall 

 plants or even in crevices of rocks, as in the 

 Buntings. The shallowest types of nest are 

 those made by the Hawfinches and Bullfinches ; 

 the deepest by such forms as Sparrows, Chaf- 

 finches, and Redpoles. The typical Finches are 



