154 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



generally of large size, almost globular in form, with, a 

 central hole for the entrance and exit of the bird. She 

 lays from four to six eggs, the average being five, of 

 a delicate semi-transparent white, unspotted. 



THE GARDEN WARBLER. 



THE Garden Warbler's nest is located a few feet from the 

 ground, in the branches of a thorn or bramble-bush, and 

 coarse grasses, which are densely matted. It is made of 

 straws, dried grass, fibrous roots, wool, and horse-hair, and 

 is rather loose and slovenly. Her eggs number four or 

 five, of a pale yellowish stone-grey, blotched and spotted 

 with ash-grey and purplish-brown. 



THE MISSEL THRUSH. 



THIS bird, known in many parts of the country as the 

 Misseltoe Thrush, builds her nest in trees, resting it on a 

 branch close to the trunk, or where the trunk ends abruptly 

 in two or three strong branches. It is composed of dried 

 grass and moss, with a liberal mixture of wool, which helps 

 it to adhere to the bark of the tree, and is lined internally 

 with fine soft grass. Her eggs number from four to six, 

 the last number being rather rare, of a pale green, speckled 

 with brown, of two shades ; however, the colours are sub- 

 ject to variation. She commences to breed very early in 

 the season, like the Common Thrush, and has been known 

 -to -lay twice in the same nest, which strengthens my 

 opinion that the bird does often rear two broods in one 



