EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 157 



visited by it during the summer. Its nest is very similar 

 to that of the ordinary Ring Ouzel or Blackbird, and is 

 located in the middle of a dense bush. The eggs number 

 from four to six, and are somewhat like those of the Field- 

 fare, only not so large. It would take a very clever con- 

 noisseur to pick out the egg of the Blackbird, Ring Ouzel, 

 Fieldfare, and Redwing from some specimens without 

 making a mistake, so much alike are they in colour, size, 

 and shape. 



THE SANDPIPER. 



ON the banks of a river, lake, or tarn, this familiar little 

 bird locates its nest, generally choosing some natural de- 

 pression, where it will be protected by a projecting grass 

 tuft, though I have found its nest on the bare ground, and 

 once on a tiny piece of grass amongst a lot of rocks. The 

 nest is lined with dead rushes, leaves, and fine grass. The 

 eggs number four, of a creamy yellow or stone colour, with 

 light brown spots and blotches, as it were, in the shell, 

 and dark brown on the surface. 



THE LESSER WHITE-THROAT. 



THE situation chosen by the Lesser Whitethroat for its 

 nest is amongst brambles, low bushes, and nettles, build- 

 ing it of grass, bents, and an inner lining of horsehairs. 

 The eggs number four or five,, and are white, with a greenish 

 tendency, spotted, chiefly at the larger end, with ash and 

 light umber brown. 



THE RUFF. 



THIS bird, like the Snipe and Red- shank, makes her nest in 

 wet, swampy places, using only the coarse grass found on 



