GARDEN WAEBLEE. 103 



and small roots, mixed sometimes with a small quantity of 

 moss, and lined with a little wool or horse-hair, and fine fibres 

 of plants. It is attached to the branches with spider-cots 

 and the cocoons of chrysalides. It is generally placed between 

 the branches of some low blackthorn, whitethorn, or other 

 bush, not far from the ground, as also at times on the ground 

 among the taller wild plants. It is rather loosely constructed. 

 One is said to have been found in an open field among some 

 tares, and another has been taken in a row of peas in a garden 

 by Mr. Yarrell. Mr. Jesse mentions his having found one 

 three times in succession among the 'Ivy green' against a 

 wall. It is not very carefully concealed. 



The eggs, four or five in number, of a dull yellowish grey, 

 or pale purple brown, spotted and blotted with darker markings 

 of the latter colour. James Dalton, Esq., of Worcester 

 College, Oxford, has obligingly forwarded me a specimen from 

 the beautiful gardens of that College, where it used to my 

 knowledge to be an annual visitant. 



Both male and female are believed to take their turn on 

 the nest. Two broods are commonly reared in the season. 



Male; weight, somewhat above five drachms; length, about 

 six inches; bill, dusky brown, the base and edges of the lower 

 mandible yellow, the inside of the mouth orange; iris, dark 

 brown a small space round it is whitish. Head on the sides, 

 pale brownish; on the crown, the neck on the back, and the 

 nape, light greyish brown, with a faint tinge of olive; the 

 neck on the sides is brownish grey; chin and throat, yellowish 

 white, the lower part of the latter and upper part of the 

 breast tinged with reddish brown, as are the sides, the re- 

 mainder yellowish white, almost white below. The wings, 

 which extend to the width of nine inches, are broad and 

 rather pointed; the first feather is extremely short, being only 

 a fifth of the length of the second, which is as long as the 

 fourth, and shorter than the third, which is the longest in 

 the wing; primaries, secondaries, and tertiaries, light dusky 

 brown, slightly margined with olive; greater and lesser under 

 wing coverts, of a fine buff yellow. Tail, straight, the feathers 

 narrow, and dusky brown in colour; under tail coverts, pale 

 greyish brown, the margins white. Toes and claws, greyish 

 brown. 



The female closely resembles the male both in size and 

 appearance, but is lighter in colour on the upper part, and 

 more uniformly greyish brown beneath. 



