62 EGGS AND EGG@-COLLECTING. 
times buffish, white ground speckled all over with dark or 
olive brown and cinereous, which become more dense at 
the larger end and form a zone. The eggs are at. times 
more numerously spotted than at others; then the markings 
are not so large. 
THE POOHARD. 
Tus bird breeds in the east and south of England, 
also in Scotland and Ireland, although it is much less 
numerous during the summer than the winter months. 
The position of its nest is similar to that of the 
Wild Duck, also the materials of which it is composed 
(dead grass and sedge, as well as down when the bird 
has begun to sit). Its eggs number from seven even to 
thirteen, but ten is the usual number laid, of a greenish- 
buff colour. 
THE BLACK REDSTART. 
Turs well-known visitor breeds in many parts of Europe 
and North Africa, building a nest very similar to that 
of the Robin, composed chiefly of twigs, straw, dried 
grass, &c., and situated in holes of walls and other positions 
similar to the above-mentioned bird. Five is the usual 
number of eggs; however, four only, or as many as six, are 
found, generally pure white in colour, occasionally tinged 
faintly with brown. Cases are recorded where they have 
been found spotted at the larger end with minute brown 
spots. 
THE SPOTTED FLYCATCHER. 
Many curious positions for rearing a family have been 
chosen by the Spotted Fiycateber, but its nest is generally 
