LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 147 



the birds, when feeding the young, make no attempt at secrecy. 

 The entrance is above the centre, and the cup within crowded 

 with feathers ; considerably over 2000 have been counted from 

 one nest. The white, finely red-speckled eggs (Plate 58), laid 

 in April, number from eight to twelve and sometimes more. 

 How this mass of feathers, at times of birds so large as a 

 domestic Fowl, Pheasant or Wood-Pigeon, is compressed 

 into so small a space by the '' Feather-poke " is difficult to 

 understand, but add to this a dozen growing infants and a long- 

 tailed parent and the marvel becomes greater. The tail of the 

 sitting bird is held above her back ; her head and the tail tip 

 cork the entrance hole, and when she investigates eggs or 

 young, the tail often protrudes. But Mr. Kearton found that the 

 male makes the congestion worse by roosting in the nest, for 

 in spite of its fluffy plumage it is susceptible to cold ; in winter 

 balls of Longtails, cuddled together, have been found in holes ; 

 in the winter of 1916-17 many perished. Yet the birds are 

 not always satisfied by a single brood. 



The head of the British Long-tailed Tit is dull white crossed 

 on either side above the eye by a black band which extends to 

 the black nape and upper back ; the scapulars and rump are 

 rosy pink. The secondaries on the brown-black wings have 

 white edges, and the three outer tail feathers have white 

 margins and tips ; the feathers are graduated in length. The 

 under parts are white, with a few dusky streaks on the breast, 

 shading to dull rose on the belly and flanks. The eyelids are 

 red, the bill black, the legs dark brown, and the irides hazel. 

 The female has a broader stripe on the head ; the young are 

 duller, and have no rose on the back ; at first their tails are 

 very short. Young White-headed Tits which I saw in Norway 

 showed a dusky streak and dull markings on the face, in 

 marked contrast to their pure -headed parents. Length, 5*5 ins. 

 Wing, 2*45 ins. Tarsus, '6 in. 



