66 FIELD-STUDIES OF RARER BIRDS 



Lastly, Number VI, measuring 14 in. round 

 by 4^ in. by 5^ in. across, with the "egg-cup" 

 2$ in. across by If in. deep, is chiefly composed 

 of moss, bents, and dried grass, lined plentifully 

 with hair (tufts as well as strands), a bit of 

 wool, with a small whitish feather worked into 

 the rim. 



Sometimes the finished article remains empty 

 for a few days, and once I knew eighteen days to 

 elapse between the completion of the nest and the 

 depositing of the first egg. 



The eggs are from three to five in number, 

 usually three or four. A " four " is very general 

 with first clutches, but, contrary to the custom of 

 most double-brooded small birds of producing an 

 egg or two more in their later nests (unless they 

 are very late ones), the " Cirl " is very fond of 

 a similar number for its second attempt, or even 

 but a trio. A " five " is very rare indeed ; so it 

 is with the Yellowhammer, in some districts at all 

 events, though the Reed- and Corn-Buntings fre- 

 quently produce this number, the former almost 

 constantly even for a first brood. 



Fortunately, even unidentified eggs of the 

 " Cirl " are almost always distinguishable from 

 those of the Yellowhammer (the only other sort 

 with which they could possibly be confused), not 

 only by their generally white or very pale bluish- or 

 sea-greenish white ground (those of the Yellow 

 Bunting usually showing a pink or purplish cast), 



