78 BRITISH BIRDS* EGGS. 



a pale greyish or greenish ground, with reddish-brown 

 spots. (PL VIII. fig. 55.) 



THE PIED FLYCATCHER. Muscicapa luctuosa. Re- 

 ported to be unknown in Ireland or Scotland ; this species 

 is also local, and uncommon in England. Its manners re- 

 semble those of the Spotted Flycatcher. The nest, built 

 in old and pollard trees, in walls and bridges, and generally 

 formed of dried grass and straws, lined with finer grass and 

 hairs, contains from four to six or eight eggs, of a pale ver- 

 digris-green colour. (PI. VIII. fig. 54.) 



CONIROSTRES. CONE-BEAKED BIRDS. 



"We now arrive at the second great division or group of 

 perching birds. They are omnivorous, and their feet are 

 so formed that they can walk upon the ground with almost 

 as much ease as they perch upon the branches of trees. 

 The families comprised in it are the Crows, Starlings, 

 Finches, Hornbills, and Crossbills, each of which, with the 

 exception of the Hornbills, is represented in our British 



list. 



COBVIIXE. CROWS. 



The Crows constitute a family limited in numbers, but 



