i8 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. " 



tree, is usually amongst the slender branches, sometimes 

 near the extremity of a massive limb, but in bushes 

 or hedges the densest part is chosen. The nest is a 

 large and bulky structure, and when finished completely 

 covered with a dome or roof. The outer part of the 

 nest is first formed of sticks, which are cemented together 

 with large quantities of clay or mud, a lining of this 

 material eventually being made. Then the huge dome 

 is built over, dead thorns being favourite material, a 

 hole being left on the side, near the top or rim of the 

 nest cavity, for ingress. Very often at this stage the 

 nest is left for a day or so to dry, before the copious 

 lining of fibrous roots is added. It has been recently 

 stated that dry grass is also used, but this I deny, at 

 any rate so far as British Magpies are concerned. The 

 whole structure when completed and thoroughly dry is 

 remarkably compact. Occasionally several Magpies' 

 nests may be found at no great distance from each 

 other, but the bird is neither gregarious nor social 

 during the breeding season. It is a wary bird at the 

 nest, slipping off very quietly if disturbed during in- 

 cubation, but becoming much more bold and demon- 

 strative when the young are hatched. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Magpie are from six to nine in number ; 

 seven and eight are frequently found, but perhaps six 

 forms the most usual clutch. They range from creamy- 

 white to bluish-green in ground colour, thickly freckled, 

 blotched, and spotted over the entire surface with olive- 

 brown, and occasionally streaked with a few lines of very 

 dark brown. They vary considerably both in shape, in 

 size, and in colouration. Some eggs are very pyriform ; 

 others are almost round. Some have little surface- 

 colour upon them, being almost spotless pale blue, 

 with perhaps a i^w violet-gray underl}'ing markings ; 



