118 APPENDIX. 



five, and are very like those of the Ring Ouzel, but with somewhat more red 

 about them. The Fieldfare seems to prefer breeding in numerous groups or 

 colonies, two or three hundred nests being frequently seen within a rather 

 limited space. 



42.* REDWING. 



This winter visitor is known to breed occasionally, but yet only very excep- 

 tionally, in this country. A nest was brought to me two summers since, 

 which, from its construction, the size and colouring of the eggs, and espe- 

 cially from the description of the bird which my informant saw leaving the 

 nest, I have little doubt was a Redwing. It breeds abundantly in Sweden, 

 and in lesser numbera in Norway, .and is described as being a very sweet 

 singer, as heard among the forest solitudes of the latter country. Its nest is 

 very similar to those of the Blackbird, Ring Ouzel and Field fare, in materials 

 and structure. The eggs are four to six in number, and very similar, allow- 

 ing for a little inferiority in size, to those of the Fieldfare, and to very red 

 specimens of the Ring Ouzel's. 



91. SNOW BUNTING. 



This bird resorts in the breeding-season to the " Arctic Regions and the 

 Islands of the Polar Sea." Mr. Yarrell says, "the nest is composed of dry 

 grass, neatly lined with deers' hair and a few feathers, and is generally fixed 

 in a crevice of a rock, or in a loose pile of timner or stones. The eggs are 

 a greenish white, with a circle of irregular umber-brown spots round the 

 thick end, and numerous blotches of subdued lavender purple. 



98. MOUNTAIN FINCH. 



This Finch is occasionally met with in sufficient numbers to be deserving 

 of a short notice here. It seems to creed in Denmark, Norway, and Lapland, 

 and it is at least possible that a few pairs may, from time to time, stay to 

 nest with us. It is said to build in fir-trees, though from Mr. Hewitson's 

 account, the nests are by no means easy to find. The following is an account 

 of a nest made by a pair in an aviary at Beccles in Suffolk : " The nest was 

 deep, the walls thick, a large quantity of materials employed for the founda- 

 tion which was worked among the stalks of the ivy-leaves. It was composed 

 of moss, wool, and dry grass ; and lined with hair." The general appearance 

 of the eggs is one o'f resemblance to those of the Chaffinch ; the spots 

 however, seeming to be fewer, smaller and less decided. 



104. SISKIN. 



This little bird Has been known in several instances to breed with us in 

 its natural wild condition, but its nesting-home is in Russia, Germany and 

 north-western Europe. It has been ascertained to build in furze bushes, 

 and also close to the trunk of a fir-tree, where a projecting bough afforded 

 support for the structure. The nest is composed of similar materials to the 

 Chafllnchs', and the eggs present a good deal of resemblance to those of the 

 Goldfinch, with a liHle inferiority in size. 



170. TURNSTONE. 



This very handsomely plumaged bird inhabits the countries bordering on 

 the Baltic, as also Greenland and other localities far to the north. Mr. 

 Hevvitson gives a most interesting account of his discovery of its nest in 

 Norway : " We had visited numerous islands with little encouragement, 

 and were about to land upon a flat rock, when our attention was attracted 

 by the singular cry of a, Turnstone. We remained in the boat a short time 

 until we had watched it behind a tuft of grass, near which after a minute 

 search, we succeeded in finding the nest. It was placed against a ledge of 

 the rock, and consisted of nothing more than the dropping leaves of the 

 Jumper bush, under a creeping branch of which the eggs, four in number , 

 were snugly concealed and sheltered." Several other nests were also found 

 in the course of further researches, which, however, were required to be both 

 close and systematic. The eggs are of an olive-green colour, spotted and 

 streaked with different shades of red-brown, and "all having a beautiful 

 tint of purple or crimson, seen in few other eggs." 



