Bird Life in a Suburban Parish 93 



Hy off Avitli each one. and return }:)resently for another ; but 

 sometimes I liave seen tliem eat one on tlie fenee. (xraspin^- 

 the seed witli one foot, they hannner it witli tlie beak two 

 or tliree times very quiekly, and soon oet at tlie nutty 

 kernel. In the winter we fasten bacon-rind to a tree for 

 tlieir benefit. Tliey soon find out and \isit reo-uhu'ly any 

 titbit put out for them, such as fat, eoeoa-nut, a bone, or 

 a hmi]) of suet. 



Both (xreat Tits and Bhie Tits are well known to be 

 fond of eurious nesti no-sites ; many of the lamp-posts around 

 are regularly used by them, and I have seen pumps and gate- 

 posts also used. On one occasion T was just in time to 

 rescue a pair of JNIarsh-tits which had been caught by two 

 boys from their nest in a hollow gate-post. They were 

 going to kill them, till I persuaded them to release them, 

 for the sake of their family, plainly audible but out of 

 reach, in the centre of the post. 



The l^lue Tit in the photogra})h had a nest of young 

 in the hollow elder-stump, but popped in so quickly that it 

 was impossible to photograph it. 'J'he hole was accordingly 

 stopped up with brown paper. This ga^ e me a chance, as 

 the bird pondered as to the best means of getting in to its 

 hunoTv brood, which were clamouriiiii' for food. 



The I^ong-tailed Tit \aries in many particulars from the 

 rest of the family. Instead of a loosely constructed heap 

 of feathers and moss in a hole, it builds for itself a beautiful 

 domed nest in the almost bare hedges of early April. How 

 the numerous long-tailed family, numbering from six to 



