152 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



more thickly towards the larger end. The eggs are 

 sharply pointed, and invariably placed with the small ends 

 together in the middle. Her nest is placed in a slight 

 depression in the earth, which she lines with withered grass, 

 rushes, or dried heather. It is situated in long grass, 

 rushes, or amongst heather, near to tarns, swamps, bogs, 

 and other places suitable to the habitat of the bird. 



THE CHIFF-CHAFF. 



THIS bird lays five, six, or seven eggs of white ground, 

 dotted with brown or blackish-purple spots, predominating 

 at the larger end ; the shell is very delicate, and must be 

 carefully handled. Her nest is built of dead grass, the 

 skeletons of leaves, thin pieces of bark and moss, lined 

 profusely inside with wool, feathers, and hair. It is 

 situated amongst furzes, brambles, in hedge-banks near 

 the ground, occasionally amongst long grass on the ground, 

 and is spherical in shape, with an opening at the side. 



THE MARTIN. 



THE Martin seems particularly fond of attaching her nest 

 to the habitations of man. I have counted eighteen nests 

 in as many feet under the eaves of one house. She builds 

 under eaves, angles of windows, arches of bridges, throughs 

 of cow-barns, rocks, sea-cliffs, &c. Her nest is composed of 

 clay and mud, particularly that found on roads covered 

 with limestone, as it possesses great adhesive qualities 



