CONCEALED ORXOVERED NESTS 125 



possible, with the limited space at our disposal, even 

 to give a mere list of them. All that we can do is 

 to illustrate the habit by quoting a few of the more 

 familiar examples. This habit is a very widely pre- 

 vailing one amongst Passerine species nesting upon 

 the ground, and is evidently practised primarily from 

 motives of concealment, or to ensure protection for 

 the procreant cradle and its contents, including the 

 incubating bird. We need not travel beyond the 

 limits of our own islands to obtain many striking 

 examples of such nests. Perhaps the most familiar 

 of all is that of the Robin {Erithacus riihecula). The 

 nest of this Robin more likely than not is built far 

 under some overhanging bank, whilst in other cases 

 the bird will gratify its desire for concealment by 

 seeking a site amongst dense ivy or exposed roots of 

 trees, or more exceptionally take possession of an old 

 can, or even a shed. The nest is a bulky structure made 

 of moss, dry grass, leaves and fibres of various kinds, 

 the cup being placed as far back under the cover as 

 possible, and formed of fine roots and hairs. The nest 

 of the Nightingale {E. luscinia) is usually placed in 

 very similar spots on banks and amongst ivy, roots, 

 and drifts of dead leaves, and resembles that of the 

 Robin very closely in form and materials. Many of 

 the Buntings (Emheriza) build their nests in much the 

 same situations, whilst the Twite and the Ring Ouzel 

 not unfrequently seek similar spots. These are types 

 of which many examples are furnished by various 



