APRIL. 101 



densely built, and is often placed in a shrub or bush 

 in the garden, and its eggs are larger and more 

 strongly coloured. Under hollow banks, amongst 

 the " old fantastic roots" of trees, especially over- 

 hanging a brook, the blackbird deMghts'to baild its 

 nest of dry bents, daubed internally with mud, and 

 lined with soft dry grass. Its eggs,,iii eomiiicfa wfcTr 

 those of the rook, crow, and magpie, are pale sea- 

 green, and brown spotted. In such situations the wren 

 too loves to build, and the thrush. But the thrush, 

 above all things, likes to place its nest by the side of 

 a young fir-tree in a plantation. In young larch and 

 spruce woods they may be found by hundreds ; the 

 nest uncommonly deep, lined only with mud, or 

 mud and cow-dung. Its eggs are of a bright sea- 

 green, with large circular black spots. They are 

 very beautiful. 



In the woods the nest of the jay may be found, 

 in the lower trees, particularly the wilding, a 

 large nest of moss, with eggs coloured like those of 

 the missel-thrush. The wood-pigeon builds on lofty 

 fir-trees, or trees covered with ivy. The nest is a 

 mere layer of sticks, through which the two white 

 eggs may be often seen from the ground. The 

 hawk chooses the tops of the loftiest trees; and 

 the magpie's nest may be seen in early spring in 

 the tops of the leafless trees, a large cone of thorns, 

 which is daubed internally with mud, and lined with 

 fine fibrous roots. It sometimes also builds in tall 

 hawthorn hedges. Wherever it be, wild or tame, 

 it is the monkey of birds, full of mischief and 

 9* 



