EGGS OF SOMERSETSHIRE BIRDS. 161 
FRINGILLIDAE. FRINGILLA. 
47.--Fringilla coelebs..— Chafinch. 
This bird, as are the finches generally, is remarkable for the 
beauty of its nest, besides the neatness of its con- 
struction, it being composed of moss, lined with wool, 
then with hair and feathers, and lastly studded on 
the outside with silvery lichens, to which adornment 
“the bird is decidedly partial, for on one occasion some 
scraps of paper, perhaps forlorn remnants of a love 
letter, were adopted ; but whether in lieu or in pre- 
ference of the more usual ingredient, ITam unable to 
say. The eggs are ofa purplish buff colour, sparingly 
streaked and spotted with dark reddish brown, length 
8% lines by 6 lines. 
48.—Passer montana.— Tree Sparrow. 
The eggs of this bird differ but very slightly from those of 
the common house sparrow ; with regard to the nest 
however, it has been observed, and I haverepeatedly 
verified it, that the entrance to it is in this species 
from the outside of the thatch, by which contrivance, 
one would imagine they were inspired by pure spirit 
of mischief ; for what advantage can accrue to them- 
selves from a drenching from every shower, it is not 
easy to conceive. 
PASSER. 
49.—P. domesticus.— Common House Sparrow. 
Eggs exceedingly variable, both in size and colour, perhaps 
averaging 10 lines by 7 lines, white, spotted and 
streaked with green, grey or brown, and even, though 
rarely, of a pure white. 
COCCOTHRAUSTES. 
50.— Cocceothraustes chloris. — Greenfinch. 
Breeds towards the end of April, laying from four to six 
w 
