52 Baby Birds at Home 



gymnast whether it is standing on a branch, 

 clinging upside down underneath it, or 

 swinging at the very tip of a long slender 

 twig, it is equally at home and always 

 happy and vivacious. 



Insects form the chief food of this species 

 during the spring and summer, but through- 

 out the autumn and winter, seeds, berries, 

 and the kernels of nuts become acceptable. 

 It is readily attracted to the garden by 

 hanging out a meat bone or the kernels of 

 Barcelona nuts. 



The Cole Tit makes its nest in holes in 

 trees, stumps, old walls and dry banks. It 

 is built of dead grass, moss, wool, hair, 

 feathers and down. 



The eggs number from five to as many 

 even as ten, although seven or eight may 

 generally be found. They are white with 

 light red spots and freckles, and bear a re- 

 markable resemblance to those of the Marsh 

 Tit. The sitting bird hisses like a snake, if 

 molested. 



Young Cole Tits wear the distinguish- 

 ing white mark of their species at the 

 back of the head, as soon as they grow 

 their feathers. 



