7398 Birch. 



Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa grisnla. 



Situation. In trees trained against houses and other buildings, 

 particularly pears, apricots, roses ; often in barns, summer-houses 

 and green-houses ; once in a lamp at Leeds, and once in London. 

 See also p. 3657 of the ' Zoologist,' and especially p. 3577, where it 

 is related that the nest was built on a hoe that hung on a nail in 

 a tool-shed, and was not discovered until finished. When the hoe 

 was wanted the nest was taken off and laid on a shelf, and returned to 

 its original site as soon as the hoe was hung up again, an arrange- 

 ment which the parent birds cordially approved, and eventually brought 

 off their young ones in safety. 



Materials. " Of three nests now before me, one is formed on the 

 outside of old dark-coloured moss, mixed with roots, the lining of 

 grass stems, with only two or three white feathers ; the second has 

 the bottom and outside of fresh green moss, lined with a iew grass 

 bents, long horse hairs, and several mottled hairs, apparently those of 

 a turkey ; the third is similar to the last on the outside, but lined with 

 long horsehair, wool and feathers," — Mr. Yarrell. 



Eggs, 4, 5. Gray-white, with pale raw-sienna spots. 



Pied Flycatcher, Muscicaioa atricapilla. 



Situation. In hollow trees. 



Materials. Leaves, hay, hair, feathers. 



Eggs, 4, 5. Pale blue-green, unspotted. 



Dipper, Cinclus aquaticiis. 



Situation. Banks of streams, caves, underneath the arches of 

 bridges. 



Materials. Moss for the exterior, dry leaves for the lining, of large 

 size and almost globular form, with a central hole for the entrance 

 and exit of the bird. 



Eggs, 5. White, delicate, semitransparent, unspotted. 



Missel Thrush, Turdus viscivorus. 



Situation. In trees, resting on a branch close to the trunk, often 

 amongst ivy. A singular instance of a pair of this bird laying twice 

 in the same nest is recorded by Mr. Bond. "A pair of missel thrushes 

 built a nest in a low shrub in a neighbour's garden, and brought off 

 their young ; since which the hen laid four more eggs, but after sitting 

 some time deserted the nest in consequence of its cracking nearly in 

 two."— ZooZ. 656. 



Materials. Moss, grass, wool, the interior lined with slender dried 

 stems of grasses. 



Eggs, 4 — 6. Pale green, speckled with brown of two shades. 



