198 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



nests of Ravens, Crows, Magpies, and Sparrow 

 Hawks throughout the United Kingdom. The 

 "nest" represented with young was situated on 

 the stump of a tree growing horizontally, as near 

 as possible, from the crevice of a Highland pre- 

 cipice. 



Materials. Generally none at all, a cavity 

 being scratched in the soft earth and leaves in a 

 crevice or nook, which soon becomes plentifully 



YOUNG KESTRELS. 



besprinkled with castings. Sticks, grass, and wool 

 are said to be sometimes used, but I have never met 

 with either. 



Eggs. Four to seven, generally five or six ; 

 dirty creamy - white in ground - colour, thickly 

 blotched and clouded with reddish-brown. Very 

 variable. In some the ground-colour is light brown, 

 darkening towards the larger end, blotched and 

 spotted with a darker shade. The colour in all 

 varieties is, as a rule, most abundant at the 

 larger end. Size about 1.55 by 1.25 in. Indis- 

 tinguishable from the eggs of the Hobby, and 



