EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 245 



form of an irregular zone. The underlying markings are not 

 very numerous, and on most eggs light and dark overlying spots 

 occur. On some specimens there are a few streaks of rich brown. 

 They vary in length from 0'8 to 0"66 inch, and in breadth from 

 0'55 to 0"5 inch. Eggs of this species and its allies ought to be 

 very carefully identified, as small examples are indistinguishable 

 from large eggs of the Goldfinch, and large examples from small 

 eggs of the Greenfinch. 



THE TWITE. 



{Fringilla flavirostris.)* 



Plate 57, Fig. 4. 



The Twite breeds in most parts of the British Islands, 

 wherever uncultivated bits of heathy land or grouse-moors are 

 to be found. It is especially common on the islands off the 

 coast of Scotland, the Hebrides, the Orkneys and the Shetlands. 

 Outside the British Islands it is only known to breed in the 

 Alpine and sub-Alpine districts of Norway, principally on the 

 islands and near the coast. 



The nest of the Twite is beautifully finished inside, and is 

 almost as neat as that of the Lesser Redpole. When it is placed 

 on the ground, the outside is, of course, built in to suit the cavity; 

 but in a tree or amongst heather the nest is somewhat large and 

 clumsy outside, the foundation being twigs of heather interwoven 

 with grass-stalks, which alone form the upper portion. Inside 

 the cup is very small, not more than an inch and a half across 

 and almost as deep. The lining is of fine roots, sheep's wool, 

 feathers, hair or thistle-down, sometimes two or three of these 

 materials at once. 



The number of eggs is usually five, very often only four, 

 but occasionally six. They measure from 0'72 to 065 inch in 

 length, by 0'53 to 0"47 inch in breadth ; they are very pale 

 greenish-blue, and are indistinguishable in their markings from 

 eggs of the Linnet, except that perhaps they are more often 

 streaked. 



* Acanfkis Jlavirostiis — Saunders, Manual, p, 185. CannaBina flavirostris — Sharpe, 



Handb., I„ p. 42. 



