GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN. 
147 
was placed in a branch of one of these trees only a few 
feet from my window. I have also seen a nest which 
was built in the centre of a low juniper and very little 
more than a foot above the ground. The nest is composed 
of the softest species of mosses interwoven with wool, a 
few grasses, dead leaves, and spiders’ webs: with the latter 
material, together with the wool, it is twisted round and 
made fast to the branches of the tree from which it is 
suspended. It is lined with a quantity of feathers, those 
of the small birds being very appropriately selected to 
form the interior of this tiny dwelling. The eggs vary 
from seven to eight which is the number most frequent, 
to ten or even eleven; their commonest colouring is 
shown by the first figure, the second represents a variety 
not uncommon. 
I have found the eggs of this species fresh in May and 
June ; Mr. Selby states that he has known full-fledged 
young ones as early as the third week in April. 
The nest, which I have mentioned above from the low 
juniper, contained eggs of a very singular variety, which, 
instead of being, as they usually are, of an oblong form 
and closely freckled all over with rust-coloured markings, 
were, like those of the willow wren, nearly round, and, 
like them and eggs of the marsh titmouse, sparingly 
spotted with red-brown. To satisfy my doubts both as 
to the nest and eggs the bird was caught and examined. 
