188 WOODCIIAT. 



The nest is said to be placed in the angle of the branches 

 of a tree a preference being given to the oak. It is com- 

 posed of sticks, wool, and moss, and lined with wool and 

 fine grass. 



The eggs are described by Mr. Hoy, as being four or five 

 in number, and varying much in marking, as well as in size. 

 In some the ground colour is pale blue; in others dull white, 

 with a band round the lower end of rust-coloured spots; in 

 others the whole surface is more or less spotted with a lighter 

 colour. Mr. Hewitson describes one from the fine collection 

 of the Messrs. Tuke, of York, in which the spots, which are 

 large and deep in colour of a brown or neutral tint, are 

 scattered equally over the whole surface. Both birds sit on 

 the eggs in turns. 



Male; length, seven inches and a half, bill, black, notched 

 near the tip, and depressed at the point: the feathers around 

 its base are whitish. Iris, dark brown, the eye is surrounded 

 by black, ending in a small patch; on the cheek is a narrow 

 streak of white. Forehead, brownish black; head, bright olive 

 brown; crown and nape, rich chesnut red; with a large patch 

 of white above the wing coverts; chin, throat, and breast, 

 white, or yellowish white; back, dusky black above, ending 

 below in grey. Greater and lesser wing coverts, brownish 

 black, the former faintly edged with white; primaries, dusky 

 black, white at the base, forming a spot when the N wing is 

 closed: the first feather is less than half as long as the 

 second; the third, fourth, and fifth, longer than the second; 

 or, according to Selby, the second longer than the fifth, but 

 this may be another instance of the uncertainty of the relative 

 length of the quill feathers in some cases; the third the 

 longest in the wing; secondaries, dusky black, white at the 

 ends. The tail, which is graduated, has the middle feathers 

 brownish black, with indistinct bars; the outer one on each 

 side white, excepting one or more dark bars on the inner 

 web; the next, white on the inner half, black on the end 

 half, white at the tip ; the next, with a white tip only. Upper 

 tail coverts, white, sometimes tinged with yellowish; under 

 tail coverts, the same. Legs, toes, and claws, black, sharp, 

 grooved, and curved. 



Female; length, eight inches; bill, dark brown; head, rufous, 

 but more dull than in the male; neck, rufous, as the head; 

 nape, dull rufous; a large patch of white above the wing 

 coverts, but not so clear as in the male. Chin and throat, 



