64 FIELD-STUDIES OF RARER BIRDS 



never slip off secretively and creep through the 

 adjacent undergrowth, as many of the Warblers 

 and the Hedge- Sparrow are so fond of doing. 



The nest itself is distinctly reminiscent of the 

 Yellowhammer's, though there is nearly always 

 more moss about it, while the frontage, or sort of 

 platform, which is frequently so marked a feature 

 of the latter 's home, is seldom much in evidence. 

 Most examples are rather neater than the commoner 

 bird's belongings. The subjoined description of six 

 nests will amply demonstrate their workmanship : 



Number I is 15^ in. in circumference, 6 in. by 

 5 in. across, with an " egg-cup " 2^ in. in diameter 

 by nearly 2 in. deep. It is fairly substantial, and 

 is fashioned externally of coarse grass-stems, a good 

 deal of moss especially in the foundations and 

 round the rim and a few withered leaves, lined 

 with finer grass-stems, rootlets, and a few strands 

 of white horsehair. 



Number II can only show a circumference of 

 14^ in., it is 5f in. across, with the " basin " 2f in. 

 across by If in. deep. Outwardly, moss, a dead 

 leaf or so, bents, coarse roots, a piece of decayed 

 wood, together with some small bits of honey- 

 suckle " trailer," find a place ; while the interior 

 is of dried grass and some patches of red and silver 

 horsehair. 



Number III is somewhat straggling, and pos- 

 sesses a slight frontage. It measures 16^ in. round, 

 and is 5 in. across, with an " egg-basin " 3^ in. in 



