EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 153 



number from five to seven, similar to those of the Chaf- 

 finch, the ground-colour being- generally green, and the 

 spots not so dark nor large. 



THE WHINCHAT. 



The nest of this bird is composed of grass and moss of 

 different kinds, the stronger on the outside, and the finer 

 forming a lining for the interior, and is situated on the 

 ground in positions where it is by no means an easy 

 task for the most veteran collector to find it. It lays five 

 or six eggs of a delicate bluish-green, rarely speckled or 

 marked with red-brown. 



THE SCOTER. 



Iceland and Scandinavia are the nesting-places of the 

 Common Scoter, which gathers together any easily pro- 

 curable materials, such as twigs, grasses, dry stalks, and 

 leaves, placing them under cover, or in hiding, afforded by 

 the low-growing shrubs or plants, and lining the whole 

 with down. The eggs number from six to ten, of a pale 

 greyish buff -colour, sometimes slightly tinged with green. 



THE GREY WAGTAIL. 



I 



Some naturalists describe the position of this bird's nest as 

 on the ground ; but, personally, we have generally found 

 them in the niches of rocks, or under overhanging ledges or 

 banks. The nest is composed of moss, bents, grass, 

 horsehair, often lined with a coat of cow's-hair, which they 

 rub off against walls and trees in the spring-time. This 

 bird's eggs number five of six, and are of a grey colour, 

 mottled and spotted with ochre-grey or brown, variable. 



