44 EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 
elliptical shape, numbering from three to five, and are 
quite white. 
f THE HERRING GULL: 
Sua cliffs and rocky islands round the coasts of England, 
Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, are the nesting-places of this 
bird, the materials used being dried grass and ferns, loosely 
put together. The eggs are three in number, of a stone 
colour, sometimes light olive-brown—but this rarely— 
spotted with dark brown. 
J THE CARRION CROW. 
Tuts bold predatory bird is lke the Raven, monogamous, 
and sticks to its mate for life. They use the same nest 
often year after year, driving their young forth as soon 
as they are capable of looking after themselves. On an 
average four or five eggs are laid, of a grey-green colour, 
blotched and spotted with a smoky brown. In some 
instances, like those of the Rook, they are found quite 
blue, minus spots. The nest is situated at the tops of 
trees in woods or plantations, and is composed of sticks 
like those of most birds, using the larger for the outside, 
the smaller for the inside, which is plastered with mud, 
clay, or cow-dung, lined with wool, horse and cow hair. 
J THE SWALLOW. 
I wave observed that the Swallow’s favourite nesting- 
place is amongst the rafters of cow-barns, stables, and 
cut-houses of a similar nature. Nests may be found 
