206 
FRINGILLIM. 
commonly placed in an old scrubby whitethorn bush, 
often in a very exposed situation ; they also frequently 
build on the horizontal arms of large oaks, the heads of 
pollard hornbeams, in hollies, and occasionally in fir-trees 
in plantations; the elevation at which the nest is placed 
varying from five to twenty-five or thirty feet. The 
most correct description of the nest which I have seen is 
in Latham’s Synopsis. It is there said to be composed 
of dead twigs of oak, honeysuckle, &c., mixed with pieces 
of grey lichen ; the quantity of this material varies much 
in different nests, but it is never absent; in some it is 
only very sparingly placed amongst the twigs, in others 
the greater part of the nest is composed of it; the lining 
consists of fine roots and a little hair. 
“ The eggs vary in number from four to six.” 
Mr. Bond has kindly sent me the two beautiful varie¬ 
ties now figured, which were taken near Hampstead. 
