272 Country Rambles. 



THE LESS RED-POLE (Linaria minor), ii., in. 



This bird breeds in Marple Wood, Cotterill Clough, 

 and similar places. The nest, rather hard to 

 discover, is round, the size of a racket-ball, and 

 composed of fibrous roots and the hemp-like bark 

 of the dead nettle-stalks of the previous year, with 

 which the little architect ties them together, the 

 inside being lined with the pappus or down of the 

 coltsfoot seed. It is generally placed in high 

 hedges or in the boughs of fir-trees. 



THE BULLFINCH (Loxia Pyrrhula)^ ii., 114. 



Rare. Remarkable for the beauty of its nest, which is 

 constructed of the withered ends of the slenderest 

 woodbine twigs the bird can find, laid crosswise like 

 a woven fabric. Generally found in a bush, and 

 about a yard from the ground. 



THE STARLING, OR SHEPSTER (Sturnus vulgaris), iii., 121. 

 A bird well-known as stopping up waterspouts with its 

 nest, and never going to bed till after a prolonged 

 chatter. Common everywhere. 



THE CARRION CROW (Corvus corone), i., 52. 



Formerly common in Hough-end Clough, but now 

 extinct, and fast disappearing from the neighbour- 

 hood in general. 



THE ROOK (Corvus frugilegus), i., 54. 



Common everywhere. Their clamour one of the most 

 familiar of rural sounds, and their great feathers. 



