BIRDS' NESTS. 105 



LESSER WHTTETHROAT. Curruca Sylviella. 

 PLATE IY. FIG. 2. 



THE nest of this bird is chiefly remarkable 

 from the looseness with which its materials 

 are put together (see page 111). The eggs, 

 four or five in number, are nearly white, long 

 in proportion to their breadth, and copiously 

 speckled, especially towards their larger end, 

 with olive grey and dark brown. 



GREENFINCH. Coccothraustes Chloris. 

 PLATE IY. FIG. 4. 



THE Greenfinch, or Green Linnet, as it is 

 sometimes called, is most commonly observed 

 in winter congregating with sparrows and 

 yellow buntings. In the breeding season, 

 however, it alters its habits, and becomes 

 quite solitary. It builds its nest in hedgerows 

 rarely less than ten or twelve feet from the 

 ground. It frequently resorts to gardens and 



