188 wooDnnAT. 



The nest is said to be placed in the angle of the branches 

 of a tree — a preference being given to the oak. It is com- 

 posed of sticks, wool, and moss, and lined with wool and 

 fine grass. 



The eggs are described by Mr. Hov, as beins: four or five 

 jn number, and varying much in marking, as well as in size. 

 In some the ground colour is pale blue; in others dull white, 

 with a band round the lower end of rust-coloured spots; in 

 others the whole surface is more or less spotted with a lighter 

 colour. Mr. Hewitson describes one from the line collection 

 of the Messrs. Tuke, of York, in which the spots, which are 

 large and deep in colour — of a brown or neutral tint, are 

 scattered equally over the whole sm-face. Both birds sit on 

 the eggs in turns. 



Male; length, seven inches and a half, bill, black, notched 

 near the tip, and depressed at the point: the feathers around 

 its base are whitish. Iris, dark brown, the eye is surrounded 

 by black, ending in a small patch; on the cheek is a narrow 

 streak of white. Forehead, brownish black; head, bright olive 

 brown; crown and nape, rich chesnut red; with a large patch 

 of white above the wing coverts; chin, throat, and breast, 

 white, or yellov/ish w'vlte; back, dusky black above, ending 

 below in grey. Greater and lesser wing coverts, brownish 

 black, the former faintly edged with white; primaries, dusky 

 black, white at the base, forming a spot when tbe wing is 

 closed: the first feather is less than half as long as the 

 second; the third, fom'th, and fifth, longer than the second; 

 or, according to Selby, the second longer than the fifth, but 

 this may be another instance of the uncertainty of the relative 

 length of the quill featliers in some cases; the third the 

 longest in the wing; secondaries, dusky black, white at the 

 ends. The tail, which is graduated, has the middle feathers 

 brownish black, with indistinct bars; the outer one on each 

 side white, excepting one or more dark bars on the inner 

 web; the next, white on the inner half, black on the end 

 half, white at the tip ; the next, with a white tip onl}^ Upper 

 tail coverts, white, sometimes tinged with yellowish; under 

 tail coverts, the same. Legs, toes, and claws, black, sharp, 

 grooved, and curved. 



Female; length, eight inches; bill, dark brown; head, rufous, 

 but more dull than in the male; neck, rufous, as the head; 

 nape, dull rufous; a large patch of white above the wing 

 coverts, but not so clear as in the male. Chin and throat, 



