NESTS AND EGGS 



BRITISH BIRDS. 



CHAFFINCH. 



SHILFA. SCOBBY. SHELLY. SKELLY. SHELL-APPLE. BEECH-FIXCH. 

 TWINK. SPINK. PINK. TWEET. HORSE-FINCH. 



PLATE LXXX. 



FringiUa calebs, PENNANT. MONTAGU. BEWICK. 



THE nest is truly a beautiful piece of workmanship, compact and 

 neat in the highest degree. It is usually so well adapted to the 

 colour of the place where it is built, as to elude detection from any 

 chance passer by close scrutiny is required to discover it. It is 

 therefore variously made, according to the nature of the elements of 

 construction at hand. Some are built of grasses, stalks of plants, 

 and small roots, compacted with the scales of bark and wool, and 

 lined with hair, with perhaps a few feathers, the outside being entirely 

 covered with tree moss and lichens, taken from the tree itself in which 

 it is placed; the assimilation being thus rendered complete. Others 

 are without any wool, its place being supplied with thistle-down, and 

 spidercots. In fact the bird accommodates itself to circumstances, or 

 rather circumstances to its requirements, using such materials as are 



VOL. II. B 



