126 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



The nest, consisting of dead leaves, bits of bark, and grass, 

 is placed in a hole, generally in the trunk or branch of a tree 

 (Plate 52), but occasionally in a wall or other situation, but the 

 particular bird objects to a large entrance and blocks up all but 

 the small hole it needs with mud or clay ; this addition is so 

 neatly made that it is not always possible to say which is trunk 

 and which added clay. If the mud cracks and falls away it is 

 speedily repaired. The five to eight, or even more, eggs are 

 white with reddish spots, varying considerably in number, but 

 seldom thickly speckled or blotched (Plate 58) ; they are laid 

 late in April or in May. Both birds bring material for the nest 

 and feed the young with flies and caterpillars. 



The colour of the upper parts is clear slate-grey, and of the 

 lower buff, shading to white on the chin and under tail-coverts 

 and to rich chestnut-red on the flanks. Through the eye, from 

 the base of the lead-coloured bill to the side of the neck, is a 

 conspicuous black streak, and above the eye is a pale stripe. 

 The central tail feathers are slate, but the others are partly 

 black, and the outer ones have also white marks between the 

 black and slate, largest on the outermost pair. The legs are 

 reddish brown and the irides hazel. In nuptial dress the male 

 is a fine bird, distinctly smarter than the paler female. The 

 young have all the colours less distinct, and little or no chestnut 

 on the flanks. Length, 5 '6 ins. Wing, 3-3 ins. Tarsus, "8 in. 



Family REGULID.E. Goldcrests or Kinglets. 



Goldcrest. Regulus regulus (Linn.). 



Until the severe winter of 1916-17 the Goldcrest (Plate 50) 

 was abundant and widespread, nesting in all the wooded 

 portions of our islands ; now it can have little more than an 

 obituary notice, for the nesting stock was practically " wiped 

 out." Other species suftered severely and have since recovered 



