202 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



A faint yellowisli-wliite streak runs over the eye and 

 ear-coverts. Crown, nape, back, rump, upper tail- 

 coverts, and wings dull brown, sliglitly tinged witli 

 green, the feathers being streaked along the centre 

 with a darker shade. Edges and tips of wing- 

 quills lighter. Tail dark brown ; outer feathers on 

 either side greyish, on the exterior webs and at the 

 tips. Chin and throat greyish, or dull yellowish- 

 white, the latter and sides of neck mottled and 

 streaked with brown. Breast dull greenish-white, 

 streaked and spotted with brown. Sides olive-brown ; 

 belly, vent, and under tail-coverts dull yellowish- 

 white, sparingly streaked with brown. Legs and 

 toes reddish-brown ; claws black. 



The female is a trifle smaller, but similar in 

 plumage. 



Situation and Locality. — On ledges and in 

 crevices of rock ; under an overhanging piece of 

 stone, or in the shelter of a tuft of grass growing on 

 rocky sea coasts, pretty generally round our shores, 

 with the exception of Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and 

 Lincoln. Our illustration was obtained on the 

 Fame Islands. 



Materials. — Seaweed and dry grass of various 

 kinds, with an inner lining of finer grass, and 

 occasionally horsehair. 



Eggs. — Four to five, grey in ground colour, 

 slightly tinged with green or reddish-browii, 

 minutely and closely spotted and mottled with 

 underlying markings of grey, and surface spots of 

 reddish-brown, occasionally marked at the larger 

 end with one or two dark brown lines. The spots 

 are, as a rule, more numerous at the larger 

 end. Size about -85 by -63 in. Distinguished by 

 large size and locality of the nest. 



Time. — April, May, June, and July. 



