208 FIELD-STUDIES OF RARER BIRDS 



size, are smaller than those the Raven uses, if larger 

 than the Buzzard's. Into this ground-work a great 

 deal of rubbish is worked moss, lumps of turf, 

 flakes of wool, hair tufts, tussocks of coarse grass 

 (roots and all), and, more rarely, a few fir sprigs. 

 Much of this protrudes through the foundation and 

 sides. Then comes the characteristic lining of mats 

 of sheep's wool (some measuring nearly five inches 

 square), some of which lap over the rim of the 

 nest and generally festoon it : while as a doubtful 

 ornamentation (if for such purpose it be) I have in 

 different nests seen worsted, twine, cord, rope, bits 

 of a halter, leather, calico, flannel, bed-ticking, 

 coconut matting, rags, garters, half a brace, fowls' 

 heads and legs, bones, the pelt of different animals, 

 rabbits' " fleck," and paper of all kinds. Small 

 pieces of white dow r n rubbed from the old Kites 

 cling to the nest and adjacent branches, \vhile, as 

 incubation progresses, a few small feathers, also 

 from the birds, and " castings," as well as relics 

 of prey, litter the base of the tree. A few drop- 

 pings, too, are noticeable, especially when the eyrie 

 is in an ivied tree. 



The ' ' egg-cup ' ' measuring about a foot across 

 is remarkably flat : indeed, until the sides of the 

 nest have been raised with more sticks and refuse, 

 as they are almost daily during the whole period of 

 hatching and rearing the young, the eggs are on or 

 even above the level of the rim. The nest also 

 abounds with vermin, and often smells musty. The 



