106 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



brown blotches. She makes a loose, slovenly nest of sticks, 

 hay, and wool, sometimes using scarcely any. Her nest is 

 generally situated on high mountain or sea cliffs, or the 

 tops of fir-trees ; she has been known to occupy the 

 deserted nest of the crow. 



THE ROBIN. 

 Tins beautiful little bird, the favourite of English children, 

 builds her nest in walls and banks, where roots and moss 

 abound. It is composed of moss, fibrous roots, and leaves, 

 and is sometimes lined with hair. She lays five or six eggs 

 of a very light gray, spotted with a dull light red ; some- 

 times these spots are very few. 



THE REDPOLL. 

 Tin; eggs of this bird are four or five in number, of a very 

 pale blue-green colour, spotted about the larger end with 

 orange-red. The eggs retain much of their pretty colour 

 after being blown, they are of such a beautiful blue. She 

 makes her nest of hay and moss, lined inside with willow- 

 down, and this is done as instinct only can do it, and 

 finished off in the most beautiful manner. She builds her 

 nest in willows, alders, and other bushes that fringe 

 streams and ponds in mountainous districts. 



THE RINGDOVE. 

 'Ink Ringdove makes a very loose, slovenly nest of twigs 

 and sticks, and it is sometimes so badly built thai the eggs 

 may be seen through the bottom of the nest. She builds 

 in fir, yew, or other trees, sometimes in ivy that growl 

 upon rocks and trees, very near the ground. She lays two 

 white eggs of a round ejl oval shape. 



