154 PARID^. 



in the holes of which it often makes its nest. Its note, 

 I have ah-eady observed, is very like that of the Cole Tit, 

 being less harsh than that either of the Blue or Great Tit. 

 The peculiar double note, which I know no other way 

 of describing than by comparing it to the syllables 

 " if-he,'^ rapidly uttered, and repeated in imitation of a sob, 

 characterises, in a more or less marked degree, the spring 

 song of all four. Another characteristic of the same species 

 is, that all the members of a brood appear to keep much 

 together for several months after they are fledged. At 

 the approach of winter, they break up their societies, and 

 are for the most part solitary till the return of spring. 

 The Marsh Tit, like the Tom Tit, has been observed to 

 enlarge the hole which it has selected for its nest, and to 

 carry the chips in its bill to a distance, and it is equally 

 courageous in defence of its eggs and young. 



THE LOl^G-TAILED TIT. 



PARUS CAUDATUS. 



Head, neck, throat, breast, and a portion of the outer tail-feathers white ; back, 

 wings, and six middle feathers of the tail black ; a black streak above the eye ; 

 sides of the back and scapulars tinged with rose-red ; under parts reddish 

 white ; tail very long ; beak very short. Length five inches and three-quarters ; 

 breadth six inches and three-quarters. Eggs white, minutely and sparingly 

 speckled with light red or plain white. 



All the Tits, of whatever species, are more or less 

 sociable in their habits, hunting about during autumn 

 in parties of half a dozen or more ; but some of them are 

 given to be quarrelsome, not only towards other birds — 

 like the Great Tit, who actually murders them for the 

 sake of picking out their brains — but among themselves, 

 as the Blue Tit, who has been noticed so intently engaged 

 in combat with another bird of his own kind, that the 

 observer caught them both in his hat. The Long-tailed 

 Tits, however, are sociable after another sort. From the 



