WITH THE BIRDS IN WALES 205 



line, concluded that his nest was there, and so it 

 proved. It contained half a dozen eggs of the cream- 

 coloured type. This species' eggs differ to a marked 

 degree, but are always of the same type in a clutch. 

 The handsomest variety I always think is the one 

 with the bright salmon-pink ground, marked with 

 chestnut and lilac-grey, whilst some of the green 

 types are very attractive. A carefully selected series 

 of these eggs makes a very pleasing show in the 

 cabinet. The nests differ just as much, too. The 

 usual type is composed externally of dried stems of 

 grass and a few roots, with a flake or two of wool 

 and some cocoons round the rim, lined with finer 

 roots, perhaps a feather or two and a little horse- 

 hair. Occasionally a good deal of wool is used on 

 the exterior. It is a compact structure enough, but 

 built very loosely in its site, and is seldom more than 

 six feet from the ground, though I have seen it as 

 much as fifteen. Nor is the bird's larder invariably 

 close to the nest, as occasionally I have found it 

 nearly a hundred yards away. 



June \\th. Punted myself across the river and 

 examined the bank somewhat carefully, almost as far 

 as the town. I only saw one Kingfisher. On a 

 fallen tree-trunk, dipping in the stream, was a 

 Waterhen's nest with seven eggs ; these eggs were 

 remarkably small varieties. 



Close to the town, in the hole of a pollard willow, 

 I found a nice brood of Pied Flycatchers, being first 

 attracted to them by the actions of their parents. 

 It was a pleasant sight to see a brood of such local 

 birds going off in safety, for nowadays few of our 



