catalogup: of birds. 149 



Titmouse, it sometimes chooses extraordinary situa- 

 tions — the inside of a postman's letter-box being 

 quite a favourite one ; Mr. Kearton also gives 

 " stone bottles, tlower-pots and boxes, cocoa nuts 

 hung in trees, for nesting accommodation." The 

 composition of the nest, colour of eggs, etc., are 

 also very similar to the Great Titmouse. There is 

 one point of interest in connection witli the hen 

 bird when she is sitting, that is, she defends her 

 nest with great pertinacity, hissing like a snake, and 

 pecking at the fingers of the intruder in a way which 

 has gained for her the name of " Billy Biter." The 

 range outside the British Islands is much the same 

 as in the case of the Great Titmouse. 



The specimen in the case was, I think, shot 

 in Surrey. 



The Coal-Titmouse. 

 Family, Paridce, 

 This Tit is resident with us and fairly well dis- 

 tributed over Great Britain and Ireland, though it is 

 by no means so common as the two preceding 

 species. Its plumage is more sombre in colour than 

 that of the Blue Tit, and altogether it is not so 

 attractive. Havino" said enouofh about the oeneral 

 characteristics of the Tit family, I will merely add 

 a little extract from Mr. W. H. Hudson's book on 

 the Coal-Tit's movements after the breeding-season 

 is over. He says, " One of the most interesting 

 winter sights in a wood composed of pine and fir 

 growing together, with beech and other deciduous 



