5i2 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



exceptions to this rule, and I have found specimens 

 made of bright green moss situated in the bleached 

 side of a hayrick. The bird practises the curious 

 habit of building the outer structure of several 

 nests, but whenever one is found with an inner 

 lining of feathers it is sure, in the absence of acci- 

 dents, to be laid in. 



Eggs. Four to eight, generally from five to 

 seven, although as many as twelve and fourteen, 



COMMON WREN PEEPING OUT OF NEST. 



and even twenty, have upon rare occasions been 

 found. White, sparingly spotted with brownish- 

 red of varying shades, generally distributed at 

 the larger end. Specimens are sometimes found 

 quite unspotted. One day I discovered a nest 

 which contained three unspottec| eggs, and 

 I remarked to my brother that the layer 

 was in a poor state of health. We photo- 

 graphed it on the Saturday afternoon, and I 

 visited the nest at six o'clock on the following 

 Monday morning, and found the hen in- 

 side. I went away for an hour, and when I 



