74 OUR NATIVE SOXGSTEKS. 



The nest of the chifF-chafF is an oval structure, 

 with a small aperture near the top. It is made of 

 coarse dry grasses, externally coated with leaves, 

 and lined with feathers. It is usually placed near 

 the ground, in a low bush, or sometimes amid the 

 thick grass on a bank ; and it contains six white 

 eggs, speckled witli purplish red at the larger 

 end. John Clare, who knew so well the dilferent 

 objects which are to be seen by those who dwell 

 in the country, has well described this nest. He 

 calls the bird the Petty-chap, and it is well 

 known to naturalists by the name of Lesser 

 Petty- chap : — 



■ Well ! in my many walks I've rarely found 

 A place less likely for a bird to form 

 Its nest— close by the rut-gull'd wagon road, 

 And on the almost bare foot-trodden ground, 

 With scarce a clump of grass to keep it warm ! 

 A^^lere not a thistle spreads its spears abroad, 

 Or prickly bush, to shield it from harm's way; 

 And yet so snugly made, that none may spy 

 It out, save peradventure. You and I 

 Had surely pass'd it in our walk to-day. 

 Had chance not led us by it ! Nay, e'en now, 

 Had not the old bird heard us trampling by. 

 And flutter' d out, we had not seen it lie 

 Brown as the road-way side. Small bits of hay 

 Pluck'd from the old propt haystack's bleachy brow, 



