170 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



incessantly, the female building, and the male 

 bringing the materials, often from a considerable 

 distance. Some idea of the extent of the task may 

 be inferred from the fact that one interior alone 

 contained 2379 separate feathers. 



A suitable fork in a thick bush, or tree, where, 

 curiously enough, some sprays of honeysuckle are 

 usually found growing, and almost invariably near 

 running water, is selected for the nesting site. Here 

 the filaments of moss are laid, and the nest is woven 

 in the ordinarv cup-shape until the point where the 

 entrance-hole is to be, is reached. Then the work 

 is proceeded with at the back of the nest, and a thin 

 framework is erected in the shape of a roof, which 

 is graduallv brought down to join the front, leaving 

 the hole clear. At this stage the structure is most 

 flimsy, and a heavy thunder-storm will beat it 

 down, destroying in a few moments the labour of 

 many days. When fully completed, however, and 

 the great mass of lining feathers added, it becomes 

 practically weather-proof. 



Both birds rest in the mossy home at night, and 

 the tips of their long tails may be seen projecting 

 from the hole in the nest-side. 



The family tie between these Titmice seems to be 

 unusually strong. All through the autumn and 

 Vvinter the young cluster together upon a single 

 bough at roosting time, when they appear a mere 

 tangled mass of feathers. 



