EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 33 



THE MERLIN. 



LIKE some other of the Hawks, the Merlin does not take 

 much trouble in the construction of her nest, simply 

 selecting a little hollow, usually well hidden by heather, 

 in moorland districts, lining it with dead ling and a little 

 grass. The eggs number from three to six^ccording to 

 some authorities; but I have usually found four on the 

 North Riding moors, brown in colour, thickly covered with 

 spots, blotches, and marblings of a reddish hue, especially 

 at the larger end. 



THE BITTERN. 



THE ground is chosen as the situation of this bird's nest, 

 well hidden amongst the dense growth of reeds and flags, 

 in close proximity to the water it haunts. It is composed 

 of a plenteous supply of sticks, reeds, flag-leaves, &c. 

 The eggs are found in numbers of from three to five, and 

 have been described as of a pale clay-brown, stone colour, 

 and olive brown, all of which are as near the mark as a 

 verbal description can come. 



THE NIGHTJAR. 



THIS bird cannot really be said to make a nest of any kind, 

 simply selecting some natural depression in the earth, 

 beneath the shelter of a furze-bush or common bracken. 

 She lays two eggs, which are grey, beautifully spotted, and 

 marbled or veined with dark brown and tints of a bluish- 

 lead colour, glossy. The female sits so closely, and har. 

 monises so well with her surroundings, that, unless one 

 happens to detect her beautiful large eye, the chances are 

 very much against finding her nest. 



