. British birds' nests; how, where, and when to find and identify them . the bark of trees, often worn quitebare at the ends. Chin, throat, breast, and bellygreyish-white, inclining to rusty reddish-white onthe flanks and vent. Legs, toes, and claws, whichare very long, light brown. The female is similar in size and colour to themale. Situation and Localittj.—In a hole in a tree ;behind a loose piece of bark still clinging to adecayed tree; amongst piles of stacked timber; inniches and crevices of buildings, and behind half-detached pieces of plaster. The one in our illus-tration was placed be
. British birds' nests; how, where, and when to find and identify them . the bark of trees, often worn quitebare at the ends. Chin, throat, breast, and bellygreyish-white, inclining to rusty reddish-white onthe flanks and vent. Legs, toes, and claws, whichare very long, light brown. The female is similar in size and colour to themale. Situation and Localittj.—In a hole in a tree ;behind a loose piece of bark still clinging to adecayed tree; amongst piles of stacked timber; inniches and crevices of buildings, and behind half-detached pieces of plaster. The one in our illus-tration was placed behind a sound piece of theouter shell of a decayed pollard. The bird couldeither slip off from the front, or up a kind ofchimney, having its exit just under the face of theinquisitive onlooker. In nearly all well-woodeddistricts throughout the British Isles. Materials.—Fine twigs, dead grass, sometimeslittle chips of decayed wood, wool, moss, feathers,and rabbits down. Eggs.—Six to nine, white,*spotted and speckledwith reddish-brown and -sometimes dullish purple. SITE OF TREE CREEPERS NEST. 34 niUTISlI BHW^ NESTS. spots, generall} in a kind of zone round the largerend. Occasionally more distributed. Size about•66 by -47 in. Time.—•Ajiril, May, and June. Bemarlxs.—Eesident. Notes : song not oftenheard, but high, shrill, and not unpleasant. Localand other names: Creeper, Tree Climber, CommonCreeper. Sits very closely. CROSSBILL Description of Parent Birds.—Length from sixand a half to seven inches. Beak rather large,upper mandible turned down and lower up. Theydo not lie in consequence in a straight line overeach other, but cross like the blades of a pair ofscissors. The Crossbill varies more according toage, sex, and individual than perhaps any otherBritish bird. Swaysland gives the following description: AVhenyoung the male birds are greenish-brown, with atinge of olive, the whole being speckled withdarker brown ; they are, however, lighter upon theunder-parts ;
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbirdsne, bookyear1898
