THE STONE-CHAT.
This pert little bird is very dexterous in the art of nest-building, selecting for materials moss and dry grasses to form the outer structure, and feathers, hair, &c., for lining the interior. The position selected is generally on the ground, at the bottom of a furze-bush, though sometimes quite away from any bush. The eggs number five or six, and are of a pale blue-green, with minute reddish-brown spots, chiefly at the larger end.
THE WHEAT-EAR.
A sheltered and darkened situation is generally chosen by the Wheat-ear wherein to build her nest—chinks of stone walls, the ruins of cairns, in old rabbit-burrows, under stones on moors, mountain wilds, &c. The nest, not very artistic in construction, is composed of a variety of materials, such as bents, grass roots pulled up by the sheep when grazing, and dried in the sun, hair and wool gathered from brambles, corners of rocks, and walls against which the sheep have rubbed themselves. The eggs number five or six, and are of a pale greenish-blue colour unspotted.
EGGS.
1. Pied Fly-catcher. 2. Meadow Pipit. 3. Tree Pipit. 4. Dunlin. 5. Landrail. 6. Skua. 7. Wigeon.
8. Golden Plover. 9. Skylark.