i66 ENGLISH BiilD LIFE 



comes to look for in his Avanderings through the 

 winter woods. 



The Marsh Titmouse is one of the species which 

 appears to be inaptly named. It certainly shows 

 no marked predilection for marshy country ; indeed, 

 its haunts are practically the same as those of the 

 Coal Tit. It is said to frecjuent the willows and 

 alders on the margin of rivers, but this applies 

 equally to the Coal Tit, and more especially to the 

 Long-tailed. In its nesting habits its individuality 

 is more marked, inasmuch as it occasionally hol- 

 lows out its nesting site in a decayed tree, or builds 

 in a cavity dug by a field- vole in a bank; never, 

 like the preceding species, approaching farm- or 

 other out-buildings in order to find a convenient 

 cranny in some old wall. 



It is not always possible to distinguish this 

 species at a distance, although the absence of the 

 white patch at the nape sets it at once apart when 

 near at hand; but, in my experience, it is rarely 

 seen congregating with the Blue Titmice in the 

 tops of the taller trees, and is altogether a less 

 familiar bird than its near congener. In its choice 

 of food, and in general habits, however, it differs 

 little from the Coal Tit. 



The Long-tailed Tit is one of the most interest- 

 ing members of an interesting group. With the 

 exception of the Golden-crested Wren, it is the 

 smallest British bird, although the abnormally 

 long tail gives the impression of much greater 

 length. It is gentle and unobtrusive in its ways, 



