NIDIFICATION. 53 



difficult to detect, but when discovered it reveals 

 a marvellous example of nest-building. Wool 

 enters largely into its composition, but lichen, 

 moss, and a cottony down are found woven 

 through it with hair, of which the inside of 

 the nest is lined the whole forming a round, 

 compact, elastic mass, which is simply a work 

 of art. 



The nest of the Goldfinch somewhat resembles 

 that of the Chaffinch, but it is not so deep, 

 and instead of being placed between the forked 

 branches, it is built at the end of a branch. 

 The Goldfinch lines its nest with the vegetable 

 down from the trees, or bits of wool. The 

 inside of the nest is thus soft and cosy. The 

 Sparrow builds a big, ravelled-looking nest, com- 

 posed of a'thing it can get hold of. It is 

 domed over, the bird entering by a hole at the 

 side. The Sparrow makes no attempt at con- 

 cealment. Another remarkable nest-builder is 

 the Wren, which constructs a nest composed of 

 the surrounding materials moss, withered leaves, 



