JEOGS AND EQG-COLLECTING. 65 



THE CURLEW. 



OF slight construction, the nest of this bird is situated 

 on moorland, heath, and marsh tracts of land; a few 

 leaves or other dry materials, carelessly brought together 

 among long grass, heather, or in a tuft of rushes, is all 

 that appears. The eggs are four in number, pear-shaped, 

 and generally placed with the smaller ends together, of an 

 olive-green colour, blotched and spotted with darker green 

 and dark brown. 



THE HOODED CHOW. 



HOODED CROWS lay four or five eggs of a grey-green, 

 blotched and spotted with smoky brown. Their nests are 

 built of sticks, heather, and wool, and are situated amongst 

 rocks and sea-cliffs in Scotland, occasionally in trees, and 

 are very similar to those of the Carrion Crow. 



THE COOT. 



THE Coot lays from seven to ten eggs, of a dingy stone 

 colour or dull buff, spotted and speckled with brown ; the 

 spots are less numerous but darker than the speckles. Her 

 nest is situated in marshes and ponds, and is composed of 

 decaying sedges, reeds, flags, and rushes; and, though of 

 clumsy appearance, is very strong. It is built on willows 

 that grow amongst the water, on tufts of rushes, and 

 more commonly among reeds. It has been known to be 

 dislodged from its position by a flood, and swept ashore 



