124 BRITISH BIRDS. 
they are made of twigs, roots, dry grass, moss, hair, wool, feathers, &c. 
The eggs differ considerably both in colour and character of markings. 
In the typical Buntings the markings take the form of bold streaks and 
fine lines, but in others these streaks are replaced by small blotches and 
spots. The ground-colour varies from pale bluish white to reddish brown 
and olive-green, and the surface-spots vary from rich reddish or purplish 
brown to dark olive-green. The underlying markings are in some cases 
violet-grey, in others rather paler than the surface-spots. 
