16 ‘BRITISH BIRDS 
Nest. Place: Any hole or crevice in buildings, rocks, 
stacks, &c. Also in the branches of trees. Material: straw, 
hay, &c., lined usually with feathers, A large untidy struc- 
ture, domed when in the open, and more or less so when 
under cover, 
Eggs. Usually 4-5. Pale bluish-white marked with varying 
shades of ash-grey and brown. Often one egg is lighter 
than the others. There is a reddish variety, also a white. 
Av. size, °86 x°6l in. Laying April-May or earlier. Broods 
2-3 or more, 
20. Tree-sparrow, mountain-sparrow [Passer montanus 
montanus (Linneus)|. Resident in most 
parts, but rare in W. Scotland and Ire- 
land. Local. 
Bird. Length 5} in. Much like the 
house-sparrow, but easily distinguished 
by its ruddy brown crown and nape, 
triangular black patch in the white of the 
cheek, double wing bars of white, and 
Fig. 12. ii graceful appearance. The sexes are 
alike. 
Nest. Place: holes in trees, buildings, walls, cliffs, &c. 
Material: grass, straw, roots, wool, lined chiefly with feathers. 
Eggs. Usually 4-6. Resemble the house-sparrow’s, but are 
smaller, more glossy, and more heavily marked. Often one or 
two eggs are lighter than the rest. Av. size, ‘77x °55 in. 
Laying begins usually May, sometimes April. Broods 2-3. 
21. Crossbill [Lozia curvirostra Linneeus}. Two forms: 
(1) Loxia curvirostra scotica, which is confined to N. Scotland, 
where it breeds and is stationary except for local movements ; 
(2) the brighter-coloured Loxia curvirostra curvirostra, which 
is chiefly a winter visitor to most parts, some staying to 
breed. 
Bird. Length 6} in. Recognised by the crossed tips of the 
bill. Male plumage mostly crimson, with 
a touch of orange. Wings and tail brown. 
Female yellowish-green. The young of 
both sexes are mostly brown above, dull 
white below, with dusky striations. The 
full adult male plumage is not attained 
till the third or fourth year, a yellowish 
Fig. 13. and mixed yellow and red preceding the 
final red. 
Nest. Place: high up in conifers. Material: platform of 
larch or fir twigs, on which is placed dry grass, wool, moss, 
roots, with a lining of finer grasses, sometimes hair. 
