42 BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR EGGS AND NESTS. 



The nest is of dry grass-stalks, loosely put together and tied 

 with wool and sparingly lined with other fine and dry vegetable 

 substances. "The eggs/ 3 we read in Yarrell, "are somewhat 

 similar to those of the Whitethroat, but rather less ; and like 

 them, are tinged with green. They are speckled all over with 

 olive-brown and cinereous on a greenish white ground ; the 

 markings becoming more dense and forming a zone at the large 

 end." Fig. 13, plate III. 



68. GOLD-CRESTED REGULUS (Regulus cristatus). 



Gold-crest, Gold-crested Wren, Golden-crested Warbler, Gold- 

 crowned Kinglet. One of the smallest of our native birds and 

 possessing a " soft and pleasing song." Its nest one of the 

 /ery most beautiful of all our English nests is built beLow the 

 branch of a spruce fir-tree and near the end of the bough, being sus- 

 pended to two or more of the spreading side-boughs. These are 

 often woven in with the moss and wool of the nest, and then 

 there is a lining of feathers; spiders' webs too are used to 

 compact the structure. Seven or eight eggs are laid, which vary 

 remarkably, in different nests, in both ground-shade and mark- 

 ings. Some remind one of the usual Robin's egg in both, though 

 the spots are much finer. Others are pale white, with yellowish- 

 brown (rather than red) speckles, Fig. 14, plate III. 



69. EIRE-CRESTED REGULUS. (Regulus igmcapillus). 



Much less common than the' last, though very likely often con- 

 founded with it from its great general resemblance. Its nest is 

 like its gold-crowned relation's, and the eggs seem to resemble 

 the variety first described in the above notice of that bird. 



V. PARIDJE. 

 70. GREAT TITMOUSE. (Pants major). 



Great Tit, Oxeye, Blackcap, Great Bl^ckheaded Tomtit, Pick- 

 cheese. It might also be called, and I believe is in one district, the 

 Saw-sharpener, for its note certainly puts one in mind of that 

 agreeable musical operation. The Tomtits are familiar to all of us, 

 and " impudent" is one of the epithets we most usually apply to 

 the whole tribe. Most of them breed in some hollow place or hole. 

 The nest of the Great Tit is formed of moss, with a feather lining, 

 and is sometimes placed in a hole in a wall ; sometimes in some 

 appropriate recess in a hollow tree. Like the other Tits, it lays 

 many eggs, occasionally from six to nine. They are white, of 

 fair size, and well spotted as well as speckled with a decided 

 shade of red. There is an easily recognised resemblance between 

 the eggs of all the Tomtit family. Fig. 15, plate III. 



