72 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



purplish-blue on her wings, hut lacks the curled 

 feathers in the tail of the male. About the end 

 of May the male commences to cast his curled 

 tail-feathers and change his plumage, and during 

 June he assumes the sober female garb, which he 

 wears through July. This he begins to discard in 

 August, and between the first and second weeks 

 in October he has again donned his magnificent 

 dress. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground amongst 

 rushes, brambles, long rank grass, sedge tufts, under 

 a bunch of heather, and in corn fields and hedge- 

 bottoms. Generally near lakes, rivers, tarns, and 

 ponds, or in marshes, bogs, and swamps. They 

 are, however, often found at considerable heights, 

 in faggot stacks, deserted Crows' nests, squirrel 

 dreys, Hawks' nests, in hollow trees, pollards, and 

 other elevated situations in ruins and rocks, from 

 which heights the female conveys her progeny upon 

 her back. Pretty generally in all suitable places 

 throughout the British Isles. Our illustration is 

 from a photograph taken in Essex. 



Materials. Dry grass, bracken, or other suit- 

 able vegetation near at hand, with a lining of 

 down from the bird's own body. The tufts are 

 neutral grey, tipped very slightly with white. 



Eggs. Eight to fifteen or sixteen, generally ten 

 to twelve ; greenish-white tinged with buff. Size 

 about 2 '3 by 1-6 in. 



Time. February, March, April, May, June, and 

 even as late as November, individual nests have 

 been recorded. April and May are the principal 

 months, however. 



Remarks. Eesident, and partially migratory, 

 larger numbers visiting us in winter than stay to 

 breed in summer. Notes : quacJc, loud and high- 



