BIRDS' NESTS. 57 



ground. It lays two white eggs, of about the 

 same size as those of the white owl, but longer 

 in proportion to the breadth. The old birds 

 are very shy, and usually desert the nest if any 

 one touches their eggs, though far from being 

 so particular if their young are hatched. The 

 Stock Dove, Columba GEnas, builds in the 

 hollows of pollard-trees, and lays two eggs, 

 smaller than those of the last. The turtle 

 Dove, Columba Turtur, builds a nest similar in 

 character to that of the wood-pigeon, and in 

 like situations. It also lays two eggs, which 

 may easily be distinguished by their very 

 much smaller size. 



GREEN WOODPECKER. Picus viridis. 

 PLATE I. PIG. 3. 



THERE are four kinds of British wood- 

 pecker, one of which, the Great Black Wood- 

 pecker, is so rare, that the most eager searcher 

 after birds' nests must not hope to obtain its 

 eggs. The others are less unfrequent ; and 



