BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 365 



buff on the chin, throat, flanks, and under tail- 

 coverts, which are barred with dark brown. The 

 breast and belly are marked with small triangular 

 spots of dark brown. Legs, toes, and claws brown. 

 The female is somewhat duller in her colora- 

 tion. 



Situation and Localitij. — In holes in trees, at 

 varying heights from the ground and at differing 

 depths. The deserted hole of a Woodpecker is a 

 favourite site. In open woodlands, parks, trees 

 growing by brooks, roads, and in fields ; in the 

 South and East of England. It is scarce in the 

 west and north, and more so in Scotland and 

 Ireland. 



Materials. — Generally the decayed and powdered 

 wood at the bottom of the hole selected. Occa- 

 sionally it is said to contain other materials, such 

 as moss, wool, hair, or feathers, but these might 

 have been previously deposited by some other bird, 

 as the Wryneck is reported to be not averse to 

 using a hole so furnished. 



Eggs. — Six to ten, generally seven or eight, ^Dure 

 white, unspotted, and often mistaken for those of 

 the Lesser Woodpecker, from which they differ, 

 however, in being a trifle larger. A sight of the 

 parent birds is the only certain method of identi- 

 fication. Average size about '85 by "63 in. 



Time. — May and June. 



Bemarls. — Migratory, arriving in April and 

 leaving in September. Note : a betraying -peel, i^eel, 

 2)eel, uttered about nine times in unbroken succession. 

 Local and other names : Snake Bird, Cuckoo's Mate, 

 Tongue Bird, Emmet Hunter, Long Tongue. Sits 

 close, and hisses. 



