40 THE BIEDS OF SUSSEX. 



accustomed spot, building a nest, or repairing an old one, on 

 the branch of a vine, or some other fruit-tree, trained against 

 a wall, generally taking great pains to conceal it from a 

 passer-by, though it is very often a pretty large mass. At 

 other times it -will place its nest against the upright stem of 

 an oak, or other rough-barked or lichen- covered tree, and in 

 that case it is usually very small, and so neatly woven into 

 its surroundings that it is very difficult to- discover. It is, 

 as a rule, composed of moss and lichen externally, perhaps 

 mixed with a few roots and feathers, and is lined with horse- 

 hair and other soft material. 



In one instance, a nest was found on the moulded architrave 

 of a window of my own house, entirely composed, externally, 

 of the blossoms of the Turkey oak, and lined with a few 

 horsehairs, feathers, and red worsted. I have twice found 

 the eggs of this species plain light blue, without any markings 

 at all. It is fond of sitting on a rail, or the point of a 

 branch, whence it pursues its insect prey, returning con- 

 stantly to the same spot. 



I have known it to select the top of a beehive, and to make 

 a raid every few minutes on the bees, as they were returning 

 with their honey. It leaves this country for the winter about 

 the middle of September. 



It does not appear to possess any song, and is the most 

 silent of all our small birds. 



Mr. Jeffery, in his private notes, states that this species 

 uses spiders' webs freely for its nest, collecting them from 

 the corners and crevices of buildings while hovering on the 

 wing. 



