THE GREAT GBET-8HRIKE r.7 



as Naumaim N;I\S. in the mo>t amusing \ N: ,\. ;,,,,! |, : , r (|\ ,,f \\arhliiig 

 notes of his own, together with tlir ordinary call-note. This song ha* 

 been heard as early M 6th December in England, 1 but is generally 

 most in evidence during fine weather in early spring ; and apparently 

 the hen also shares in this accomplishment, but sings less con- 

 tinuously. 



Neil building begins in the second half of March in the south, 

 and rather later in Central Europe, while in the Arctic Circle the 

 season is quite a month later. Dr. Burstert quotes some interesting 

 ease* in which the nest was actually htiilt on tin- yen same branch for 

 MM years in succession. The site chosen naturally varies to some 

 extent, according to the district in which it is found. In Germany it 

 is frequently found on the side branches of large oak or fruit trees, 

 Lrener.ilh at a pocl height from the ground, about :tO to JO feet or 

 even more. But even here it is occasionally to be found much lower, 

 and has on several occasions been met with in thorn bushes only a 

 few feet from the ground. Where the timber is small and not 

 allowed to attain any great size, it is perforce obliged to nest lower 

 down, as in Brabant, where it may be found breeding in the clumps 

 of pines on the heaths. In Northern Scandinavia, too, the slender 

 birch-trees on which it breeds are often quite small and stunted. 

 Carl Sachse's observations show that while both sexes bring material, 

 the actual building is done by the hen alone. The nest is bulky for 

 the size of the bird the foundation consisting of stout twigs, and the 

 upper part of stalks, heather twigs, roots, etc. The inner cup, which 

 is somewhat deep, is warmly lined with feathers, and also sometimes 

 wool and hair. 



It is interesting to note the different species of birds which have 

 been laid under contribution : in Holland I have seen the feathers 

 of redlegged-partridge, garganey, mallard, and blacktailed-godwit in 

 one nest ; in Lapland and Norway the feathers of the willow-grouse 

 are generally used ; but on the edge of the forests on the Muonio 



1 Zooloffitt, 1880, }x -(> 



