52 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



Site. In fork of thick hawthorn hedge, usually. 



Materials. Stalks, roots and moss, lined with bents, 

 horse-hair, and occasionally some wool ; nest rather 

 large. 



Eggs. Four to six. Dull pinky or buffy white, 

 spotted or zoned with reddish and olive-brown, and pur- 

 plish grey underlying. Variable. 



WAX WING (Ampelis garrulus). 



An irregular visitor, usually to the northern and eastern 

 districts, often in considerable numbers. 



Plumage. Frontal band, lores, and chin black. 

 Forehead and crest chestnut-brown ; upper parts light 

 greyish brown, shading into ash-grey towards rump. 

 Wings black, tipped with white ; outer webs of second- 

 aries tipped with white, and with several red sealing wax- 

 like appendages (hence Waxwing). Tail black, broadly 

 tipped with yellow ; under parts rosy brown, whiter on 

 the belly ; under tail-coverts chestnut. Bill and legs 

 black. Length 7^ in. Female duller. Young browner, 

 and no black chin. 



Language. Usually rather silent ; it has a note not 

 unlike the Blue Tit's, thus : " cir-ir-ir-irre." 



Habits. Flight not unlike the Starling's. In its 

 movements and actions it reminds one of the Tits. 



Food. Insects, but fond of many kinds of berries, 

 especially mistletoe berries. 



Nidification. Breeds in Northern Europe, &c. 



BRAMBLING (Fringilla montifringilla) . 



An irregular winter migrant. Commoner in the North, 

 and much rarer in the South and West ; it may breed in 

 the extreme North. 



