66 EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 
materials as dry grasses of various kinds, and seaweed, 
with an inner lining of fine grass, and occasionally horse- 
hair. Its eggs number four or five, of a grey ground~- 
colour, occasionally slightly tinged with green. The spots 
are variable in shade, being sometimes greyish-brown, at 
others reddish ; the underlying ones are always light grey. 
The spots are small, and more crowded at the larger end. 
THE CORMORANT. 
Rocky coasts are chosen by the Cormorant, which builds an 
ample nest of sticks, seaweed, and coarse grass on some 
ledge or shelf of sea cliff. Her eggs number from four to 
six, of a chalky-white colour, varied with pale blue or 
greenish tinge, which is really the colour of the proper 
shell, the white being only a rough coat. 
THE CREEPER. 
Tuis little bird generally builds its nest in a hollow tree, its 
materials being fine twigs, dead grass, moss, and feathers, 
and lays from six to nine eggs of a white ground-colour, 
speckled with red-brown at the larger end, much resembling 
those of the Willow Wren and Blue Titmouse. 
THE TURTLE DOVE. 
Tue eastern and southern counties are the favourite 
nesting localities of this Dove, which builds a loose nest 
of sticks and twigs, carelessly thrown together, in a fir, 
holly, or other bush. The eggs number two, are quite 
white, and much smaller for the size of the bird than the 
Ring and Stock Doves. 
