EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 139 



THE KITE. 

 This bird locates its nest in a strong fork of some tall tree, 

 building it with sticks and whatever softer material she 

 can come at without much trouble, such as wool, &c. The 

 eggs number three, and are of a grey or dirty white, 

 spotted and blotched with dull red or orange-brown, the 

 spots predominating at the larger end. 



THE RED-SHANK. 

 ' The nest of the Red-shank is situated amidst a tuft of grass, 

 or in a small hole sheltered by the surrounding herbage, and 

 is constructed of a few blades of fine dry grass lightly put 

 together. She lays four eggs of a cream or straw colour, 

 blotched and speckled with dark brown, the spots being 

 very variable, but generally forming a belt or zone at the 



larger end. — 



THE SAND MARTIN. 

 As denoted by the name, the nesting-place of the Sand- 

 martin is at the extremity of a deep hole, which the bird 

 excavates for herself in some sandbank, generally near a 

 river. The nest is constructed of straw, hay, or dead 

 rushes, whichever may be found in the locality where the 

 bird is breeding, and lined with feathers. The eggs are 

 from four to six in number, of an elongated shape, the 

 extreme thinness of the shell giving them a pinky appear- 

 ance, but when blown they are a beautiful white. 





THE LITTLE STINT. 

 This bird does not breed in the British Isles, but in 

 Northern Europe and Asia. The nest is situated on the 

 ground, and is very similar in construction to that of most 



