208 THE COAL-TIT— MARSII-TIT — TUFTED TITMOUSE. 



tlicroby drawing upon tlicmselves the vengeance of the gardener ^vho 

 prepares h.s gun, fires at the supposed depredators, and possibly succeeds 

 in kdling them ; but he has also succeeded in doing more damage to 

 the healthy buds by his spare shot, than a score of Tits M-ould injure 

 (uiring the entire season. 



of T/r.^rf'*'^^ and elaborate nest which this bird constructs i« one 

 of Its chief peculiarities. It is oval in shape, and entiielv closed 

 except one small hole at the side, just large eL'ugh to adm7the bfrd'.- 



X \T7 ?^ ^^'^ T'' '' ^-'"^^'^ ^"^^^^<^ ^^'ith Hchens, and is lined 

 with a thick layer of soft feathers. In this warm and elegant habiia 

 t.on are laid from ten to fourteen eggs, which are smafl and very 

 delicately spotted. The entire length of the bird is about five inlhe^- 



and a half 



THE COAL TIT. 



The CoalTit is very. similar to the Blue-Tit in form, but smaller 

 being about four inches in length, and destitute of the lively colors 

 ^hich render that bird so agreeable to the eye. The breast of the 

 Coal-lit IS of a greyish-white, the back yellowish-grey, and the feet 

 and claws of a hvid blue; the head and neck are of a deep black 

 (whence it has been called the Lesser Blackcap,) with a patch of white 

 on each cheek, and another on the nape of the neck. This bird is not 

 l^ZrTT'''' ^^^i^S^.^"^' but in Scotland, where it frequents the 

 forests of pine and fir, it is more abundant, and may be seen through 

 out the year, except in very severe weather, when it departs sou°th 

 ward, or approaches the farm-houses and towns to seek for food 



THE MARSH-TIT, 



The Marsh-Tit is very like the preceding in color and form, thou-h 

 larger, but has no white on the nape of the neck. It is very common 

 m the northern parts of England, but is seldom seen in Scotland above 

 J^ifeshire, and scarcely ever so far south as London. Althouoh it 

 may be sometimes met with in the woods in dry districts, it is more 

 frequently to be found among th.e reeds in low marshy tracts where 

 It makes its i.est generally choosing some decayed willow for a 

 foundation The Marsh-Tit is also known provincially as the Smaller 

 Oneeye, Willow-Biter, Joe Bent, &c. 



THE TUFTED TITMOUSE. 



This species is six and a half inches long, and nine in the stretch of 

 the wings Above, dark bluish-ash; the front black tinged with 

 reddish. Beneath sullied white, except the sides under the win^^ 

 which are pale reddish-brown. Legs and feet greyish blue. Bill 

 black Ins hazel. The crest high and poin ed, like that of the common 

 Blue Jay Tad slightly forked. Tips ol the wings dusky. Tongue 

 blunt erdmg in four sharp points. Female very similar to the male 



