EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 78 



THE GOSHAWK. 



HIGH trees on the outsides of forests and large woods are 

 chosen by the Goshawk for the accommodation of its nest, 

 which is made of sticks, twigs, rootlets, and moss. It lays 

 four eggs generally, but sometimes only three are found, 

 and at others as many as five ; of a pale bluish- white, 

 occasionally marked with small, light reddish-brown spots. 

 The bird has, however, long since ceased to breed in the 

 British Isles, unless as a rare exception. 



THE YELLOW WAGTAIL. 



I HAVE met with this somewhat local though common 

 summer visitor's nest most abundantly in the Yorkshire 

 dales. It is situated on the ground, in meadows, pastures, 

 and on commons, and is generally sheltered by a clod, piece 

 of overhanging bank, or tuft of grass, and is often most 

 difficult to find. It is composed of grass, moss, and root- 

 lets, with an inner lining of horse and cow hair, sometimes 

 a few feathers. The eggs number from four to six, 

 greyish-white in ground colour, and thickly speckled with 

 greyish- and yellowish-brown. They are very similar to 

 those of the Grey Wagtail. 



THE GREY LAG GOOSE. 



THIS bird places its nest on the ground in desolate swamps 

 and on lonely moors in the Highlands of Scotland, and the 

 islands lying to the west; also in Ireland, in County 

 Monaghan. It builds a large nest of sticks, heather, twigs, 

 reed, grass, and moss, with an inner lining of down from 



