EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 149 



The situation of the nest, its materials and structure, also 

 the eggs of the Ring Ouzel and Blackbird, differ but 

 little, and we have often had a difficulty in determining the 

 rightful owner of a nest, until the parent bird has been 

 watched on or off. The nest is composed of coarse grass, 

 moss, and mud, with an inner lining of finer grass, and is 

 generally situated in clefts of rock, steep banks, or old 

 walls, sometimes quite on the ground. The eggs number 

 four or five, of a dull bluish-green, freckled or blotched 

 with reddish-brown, markings generally larger and fewer 

 than those of the Blackbird. 



THE KENTlW PLOVER. 



No trouble is taken by this bird in nest-building, simply 

 depositing its eggs in some depression or hollow of the 

 sand or shingle on the southern coasts of England, princi- 

 pally Kent and Sussex. The eggs number four, and are of 

 a cream, stone, or pale testaceous-brown colour, streaked 

 and spotted with black. 



L THE BUZZARD. 



The Buzzard sometimes builds a nest of sticks, hay, leaves, 

 and wool ; at others adopts a crow's nest in some mo- 

 derately high tree. Her eggs number two, three, and even 

 four, and are of a dingy white; sometimes this colour 

 alone, and at others spotted and blotched at the larger end 

 with red-brown. 



THE CIRL BUNTING. 



■ 



pp Some low bush or furze is generally adopted by this bird 

 for its nesting-place. The nest is composed of dry grass, 

 roots, and moss, with generally an inner lining of hair, but 



