20 BRITISU niBDS' XEs'TS. 



or sliriibs tlirougliout tlie United Kingdom. Our 

 illustrations are from photographs taken in widely 

 different parts of the countr}^ 



Materials. — Moss, wool, lichens, and cobwebs 

 beautifull}' felted together, and lined with hair, 

 feathers, and down. The nest is cup-shaped, deep, 

 and wonderfully made in every respect. It is 

 comjDact, neat, well felted or woven together, and 

 securely fastened to the situation chosen. The 

 bird shows a great deal of sagacity in its outside 

 adornment. I have specimens in my possession 

 taken from lichen-covered or grey-barked trees 

 that are smothered with bits of lichen and spiders' 

 nests, and have seen bits of old newspaper used 

 for the purpose. On the other hand, I have nests 

 whereon none of these materials appear, because 

 their surroundings did not call for them to produce 

 any harmonising effect. 



Eggs. — Four to six, generally five. Pale greenish- 

 blue, generally suffused with faint reddish-brown 

 and spotted and streaked with dirty reddish-brown 

 of various shades. I have specimens in my pos- 

 session suffused with purplish-buff' all over, but 

 without any markings ; and have seen a clutch of 

 pale greenish-blue ones entirely unmarked. Size 

 about -75 by -58 in. 



Time. — March, April, May, June and July. 



lieniarlxs. — Resident, and partially migi-atory. I 

 have noticed that the cocks, almost without ex- 

 ception, leave the Yorkshire dales in winter. Notes, 

 spiiilx-spiiil-, ijac],--!iacl-, treef-treef. Its song is a 

 joyous, ringing trill. Local and other names : 

 Bullspink, Scobby, Skelly, Spink, Twink, Pink, 

 Shellapple, Shelly, Shilfer,' Wet Bird, Buckfinch, 

 Beechfinch, Whitefinch, Copperfinch, Horsefinch. 

 A very close sitter. I have seen the bird's tail 



