216 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



— a character which will to some extent serve to distinguish them 

 from eggs of the Bedstart. They vary from 0'8i2 to 0"72 inch in 

 length, and from 0'05 to 0'55 inch in breadth. 



THE ALPINE ACCENTOE. 



{A ccen tor alp in us.) * 



Plate 54, Fig. 4. 



The Alpine Accentor is a purely accidental visitor to the British 

 Islands. It breeds throughout the mountains of Southern Europe, 

 the Sierra Nevada in South Spain, the Pyrenees, the Alps, the 

 mountains of Greece and Asia Minor, and the Caucasus, extending 

 into Northern Persia. 



The nest is placed on the ground, under an overhanging rock 

 or rhododendron shrub, and is neatly finished and rather deep. 

 It is composed of dry round grass-stalks, intermixed with fine 

 roots and a few lichens. It is said sometimes to be lined with 

 moss, wool, or hair. 



The eggs vary in number from five to six, and in size from l'O 

 by 07 inch to 0'9 by 0'63 inch. In colour they are unspotted pale 

 greenish-blue. 



THE WEEN. 

 (Troglodytes parvulus.) t 



Plate 54, Fig. 2. 



The Common Wren is generally distributed throughout the 

 British Islands, even in the wildest and most desolate districts. 

 It is found throughout Europe, but does not extend to the Arctic 

 circle. 



The Wren builds a domed nest like those of the Dippers. As 

 often as not the outside is composed of moss and withered leaves, 

 the latter in great numbers. Bound the hole which admits the 

 parent birds are woven straws, which also do much to strengthen 

 the whole structure. The inside is lined with fine moss, hair, and 

 a large quantity of feathers ; but those materials are not always 

 found. 



* Accentor collaris — Saunders, Manual, p. 87 ; Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 308. 

 f Anorthura troglodytes — Sharpe, Handb., I., p. 314. 



