14 Birds that come to our 



his music. A " hedge-sparrow's " mossy nest, hidden 

 low down in some evergreen shrub or ivy stump, is a 

 real joy to find, with its complement of brilliant tur- 

 quoise eggs. One wonders at so sombre and retiring 

 a bird being able to thus decorate its nest with such 

 vividly coloured shells. The hedge-sparrows do not 

 hop about the lawns with the boldness of thrushes, 

 blackbirds, and robins ; but generally keeping nearer 

 to the bushes, seem to apologise for their presence, and 

 quickly disappear. 



Chaffinches are very bold, half walking and half 

 hopping with nodding heads in front of the windows, 

 even in summer time, and then flitting off with white- 

 banded wings, uttering their call note of " Pink, 

 Pink." 



The cock bird is very handsome with his blue- 

 grey head, his breast of dull pink, his greenish back, 

 and white conspicuously marked wings and tail. 



Could <?«ything in bird architecture be more lovely 

 than a chaffinch's nest. A perfect lichen-covered cup 

 of moss, bound tightly to the twigs of some over- 

 hanging branch ; the eggs within, thickly spangled 

 with chocolate spots and specks, upon a creamy 

 ground. 



There are many other birds less conspicuous and 

 more timid, usually to be seen or heard in our English 

 gardens. 



Late in March, if the spring has entered with 

 mild still days, and the month is going out like a 

 lamb, the monotonous but pleasing notes of the chiff- 

 chafF are heard everywhere. It is one of the several 



