TREE-CLOIBING BIRDS 169 



asking nothing of the favour of man, and never 

 approaching the homestead with the confidence of 

 the Great and Blue Titmice; yet, in its own haunts, 

 it is by no means a shy or distrustful bird. It has, 

 I think, a greater affection for the low trees that 

 fringe the running stream than any of its family. 

 Often, when fishing, one hears far away the faint 

 call-notes, like the tinkling of fairy bells. Wading 

 deeply amongst the great mossy stones, the angler's 

 appearance is inconspicuous, and, as he rests close 

 to the line of the willows, the tiny bells draw 

 nearer. Then the little party of Long-tailed Tits 

 are seen flitting forward, alighting, one by one, with 

 a soft "zee-zee-zee," upon the outermost sprays 

 of the willows, almost within reach of the hand. 

 Here they hang beneath the boughs, and perform 

 many graceful evolutions, the long, white-lined 

 tail and delicate, roseate hues, contrasting clearly 

 with the fresh green leaves. In a moment more the 

 leader flies on, followed by his silvery-voiced clan, 

 rising and falling in single file, each resembling a 

 miniature arrow bearing an undulv heavy head, 

 rather than a living bird. 



In its nest building, too, the Long-tailed Tit is 

 worthy of special note. The task of framing a 

 domed nest is one involving no small amount of 

 skilled labour. The completed design must be 

 clearly in the mind of the small artificer before the 

 first twig is laid, for all the later stages depend 

 on the first few steps. The Long-tailed Tit's nest, 

 combining, as it does, all the qualities of warmth, 

 security and beauty, is a model of pre-arrangement. 

 For twelve or fourteen days, both parents toil 



