26 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



outer webs and marked with greyish-white on both 

 webs near the base. Tail-quills black, tinged with 

 grey on the two middle feathers, and the two outer 

 ones on each side marked with white. Chin, cheeks, 

 throat, breast, belly, and under-parts reddish, chest 

 nut-brown, paler on the belly, vent, and under tail- 

 coverts. Legs, toes, and claws dusky. 



The female is smaller, and her head, neck, and 

 upper part of the back greyish-brown ; the rump 

 and upper tail-coverts are not so bright, and her 

 under-parts are brownish-white, tinged with red 

 upon the breast. The white bars upon her wings 

 are not so conspicuous. 



Situation and Locality. In the forks of small 

 trees, on branches and twigs of whitethorns, 

 fruit-trees, in hedges, gorse-bushes, and other 

 kinds of trees in orchards, spinneys, on com- 

 mons, and almost anywhere and everywhere where 

 there are trees or shrubs throughout the United 

 Kingdom. 



Materials. Moss, wool, lichens, and cobwebs, 

 beautifully felted together, and lined with hair, 

 feathers, and down. The nest is cup-shaped, deep, 

 and wonderfully made in every respect. It is 

 compact, neat, well woven together, and securely 

 fastened to the situation chosen. The bird 

 shows a great deal of sagacity in its outside 

 adornment. I have seen specimens in lichen- 

 covered or grey-barked trees that were smothered 

 with bits of lichen and spiders' nests, and have 

 known bits of old newspaper used for the purpose. 

 On the other hand, I have met with many 

 whereon none of these materials appeared, because 

 their surroundings did not call for them to produce 

 any harmonising effect. 



