BIRDS' NESTS. 79 



hundreds of miles is covered with deep snow, 

 the snow-bunting travels to less severe climates 

 in quest of food, and is not unfrequent even in 

 England. In Scotland it is yet more common, 

 and is supposed to build its nest near the patches 

 of snow which remain all the year round on the 

 summits of the highest Scottish mountains." 



" I suppose I shall never have a snow-bunt- 

 ing's egg/' said Henry. 



" Well, indeed, I do not think it very likely; 

 but I dare say we shall find, all in good time, 

 nests of the yellow and reed buntings, as they 

 both build in this neighbourhood. And now 

 run and fetch me the third volume of Mac- 

 gillivray's British Birds, and we will read his 

 description of the way in which a pair of wrens 

 built their ' hole of a nest.' ' 



" The account is too long to be given here 

 entire ; but the substance is as follows : c Yes- 

 terday,' says Mr, Weir, ' a pair of common 

 wrens flew about for a considerable time, in a 

 particular part of my shrubbery, as if in search 



