NATURE'S CAROL SINGERS. 



county in England, but is most numerous 

 in the northern counties and in Scot- 

 land. It also nests in Ireland, where it 

 is scarcer in the south than the north. 

 Its nest is a very pretty little structure 

 made of a few slender, dead twigs (used 

 as a foundation), dead grass stalks, moss, 

 and rootlets beautifully lined with willow 

 down and occasionally hair and feathers. 

 It is built in willows, alders, firs, haw- 

 thorn, birch, hazel, and other trees 

 and bushes. It has also been found in 

 heather. 



The eggs, which number from four to 

 six, are of a very pale bluish-green 

 ground colour, spotted generally about 

 the larger end with orange-red, and 

 sometimes streaked with a darker tint. 



The song of this species is not of a 

 high order in regard to quality, and has 

 been variously described by different 

 authorities. Professor Newton says, 

 " Towards the end of winter the cocks 

 break out in song, which, though not 

 powerful, is lively and agreeable, and 

 begin to indulge in the characteristic 

 exultant flight during which it is gener- 

 ally uttered/' Mr. Henry Seebohm de- 

 scribes it as "a short, monotonous trill, 

 clear and not unmusical " ; whilst Bech- 



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