.BIRDS' NESTS. 137 



sides of the nest which frequently measures 

 five inches in depth on the outside, three inches 

 in breadth across the top, and three inches 

 deep inside ; the lining is formed of a very fine 

 grass and long hairs. The nest is made so 

 deep that the eggs do not roll out when the 

 supporting reeds are waved by the wind, and 

 the bird has been seen sitting on her nest 

 when every gust forced it almost to the surface 

 of the water." The eggs, three quarters of an 

 inch long, are of a greenish white colour, 

 spotted and speckled with ash green and light 

 brown. 



CUCKOO. Cuculus canorus. 



PLATE IX. FIG. 3. 



ENOUGH has been written on the natural 

 history of the Cuckoo, more especially with 

 reference to the laying of its eggs and the 

 rearing of its young, (even if I were to omit the 

 fabulous,) to fill this little book three or four 

 times over. I would recommend the young 

 collector to read a very interesting chapter 



