FGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 79 



about seven to a dozen inches deep. I have found it quite 

 close to London. No materials are used for the nest 

 except chippings of dry wood detached in the construction 

 of the hole. Eggs from five or six to eight, and even nine, 

 whitCj without spots, and polished. 



THE WILLOW WREN. 



The nest of the Willow Wren, or Willow Warbler, is 

 situated on or near the ground in fields, orchards, woods, 

 and almost everywhere. It is made of moss, bits of dried 

 grass, occasionally fern-fronds or leaves, and is lined with 

 feathers and hair. The eggs number from four or five to 

 seven, and upon occasion I have found eight. They are 

 white, spotted with reddish-brown. 



THE SEDGE WARBLER. 



I HiVE found this bird's nest amongst low bushes, tuffs of 

 tall, coarse grass, and amongst nettles j generally, though 

 not always, near water. It is composed of grass-stems 

 lined with finer grass, horsehair, and sometimes vegetable 

 down in small quantities. The eggs number five or six, 

 light yellowish-brown tinged with blue, which is rarely seen 

 on account of the closely-crowded yellowish-brown or 

 buffish-brown markings. The eggs generally have a few 

 ."itreaks or lines of blackish-brown on the larger end. 



THE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 



The nest of this bird is found on the ground, concealed 

 beneath rocks, or amongst the vegetation growing on the 



