GOLDCREST. 121 



much the darkest coloured, light reddish brown; some 

 have been known pure white, sparingly spotted with 

 reddish brown here and there. They are smaller than 

 those of any other British bird, and are sometimes 

 almost of a globular shape. The young are fed by 

 both the parents. It is thought that two broods are 

 reared in the year, and that the second is less numerous 

 than the first. Eggs, fresh laid, have been met with 

 in May and June, while young birds have been known 

 fully fledged by the third week in April. The same 

 nest has also been known to have been used twice in 

 the same season, two broods being hatched and reared; 

 but whether by the same parents or not, of course could 

 not be told. The eggs in one nest were observed 

 placed in two rows, with the small ends touching each 

 other. 



One variety is of a greyish white, with some small 

 spots of pinkish yellow all over, some of them arranged 

 as a band. 



Another is of a pale dull yellowish white, with 

 yellowish-brown spots thickly run together at the base: 

 it is of a rotund form. 



A third is greyish, and of an oval shape, with a 

 bar of minute spots of the same over the base. 



W. Bridger, Esq. has forwarded me a nest, and a 

 lady a drawing of one. Mrs. Murchison, of the Priory, 

 Bicester, has also obliged me with a beautiful specimen 

 of the nest and the egg. 



VOL. II. 



