52 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



Site.— In fork of thick hawthorn hedge, usually. 



Materials. — Stalks, roots and moss, Hned with bents, 

 horse-hair, and occasionally some wool ; nest rather 

 large. 



Eggs, — Four to six. Dull pinky or buffy white, 

 spotted or zoned with reddish and olive-brown, and pur- 

 plish grey underlying. Variable. 



WAXWING [Ampelis garrulus). 



An irregular visitor, usually to the northern and eastern 

 districts, often in considerable numbers. 



Plumage. — Frontal band, lores, and chin black. 

 Forehead and crest chestnut-brown ; upper parts light 

 greyish brown, shading into ash-grey towards rump. 

 Wings black, tipped with white ; outer webs of second- 

 aries tipped with white, and with several red sealing wax- 

 like appendages (hence Waxwing). Tail black, broadly 

 tipped with yellow ; under parts rosy brown, whiter on 

 the belly ; under tail-coverts chestnut. Bill and legs 

 black. Length 7J in. Female duller. Young browner, 

 and no black chin. 



Language. — Usually rather silent ; it has a note not 

 unlike the Blue Tit's, thus : " cir-ir-ir-irre." 



Habits. — Fhght not unlike the Starling's. In its 

 movements and actions it reminds one of the Tits. 



Food. — Insects, but fond of many kinds of berries, 

 especially mistletoe berries. 



Nidification. — Breeds in Northern Europe, <&c. 



BRAMBLING [Fringilla montifringilla). 



An irregular winter migrant. Commoner in the North, 

 and much rarer in the South and West ; it may breed in 

 the extreme North. 



