332 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



Materials. Sticks and twigs knitted and plas- 

 tered together with mud and clay, and lined with 

 straw, hay, or wool. The bird is often very par- 

 ticular about the kind of nest it constructs, and 

 will pull it to pieces and rebuild it several times. 

 It is an arrant rogue, and I have watched indivi- 

 duals steal each others' sticks on a good many occa- 

 sions. The old nests are sometimes repaired in the 

 autumn, and it is said eggs are occasionally laid at 

 that season. 



Eggs. 'Four or five, of a pale green or brownish- 

 green ground-colour, spotted and blotched with 

 greenish- or smoky -brown. Distinguished by bird's 

 gregarious habits. Average size about 1.68 by 1.18 

 in. (See Plate I.) 



Time. February, March, April, and May ; the 

 laying season varying according to the character 

 of the weather. 



Remarks. Resident, although numbers increased 

 by arrivals from Continent in winter. Note : craaw. 

 Local and other names : White-faced Crow, Craa. 

 Gregarious, and a fairly close sitter. 



ROOK. 



