268 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



adorned by the black j^atch on the chin and throat, 

 so conspicuous in the male. 



Situation and Locality. — Holes in pollards and 

 other trees, crevices of rocks, holes in \Yalls, and the 

 thatch of barns. It is very local, and nowhere 

 numerous. It breeds most commonly in the midland 

 and eastern counties of England, and is met with 

 sparingly in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. 



Materials. — Straws, dry grass, and roots, lined 

 with hairs and feathers. It is generally open at 

 at the top, but domed when situation demands it. 



Eggs. — Four to six, generally four or five, greyish- 

 white in ground colour, thickly spotted all over 

 with dark grey or dark brown. Occasionally the 

 ground colour is white, thickly spotted and freckled 

 with grey spots and blotches. One egg of a clutch 

 is often lighter coloured than the rest, and some- 

 times the eggs are streaked with a dark line or two. 

 Size about '8 by "57 in. They are not unlike the 

 eggs of the Pied Wagtail and Meadow Pipit, but of 

 course the position of nest differs widely. {See 

 House Spaeeow, "Eggs.") 



Time. — April, May, June, and July. 



EemarJi's. — Resident, but subject to local move- 

 ment. Notes : numerous Sparrow-like chirrups. 

 Local and other names : Mountain Sparrow. A close 

 sitter. 



SPARROW-HAWK. 



Description of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 twelve inches ; beak short, curved, and bluish ; 

 bare skin round the base of the beak 3'ellow. Irides 

 yellow. Head, nape, back, wing, and upper tail- 

 coverts deep bluish-grey, edged with rusty red ; 

 wing-quills dusky, barred with black on the outside 



