CHAPTER V. 



Tom-tit, Chat, and Blue Wren. 



THE suburban bird we select for first mention is the 

 Tom-tit, and the reason is two-fold. Firstly, it 

 is the native bird which, as a rule, first meets one 

 during a ramble along suburban hedges. In the 

 second place our very first attempts at bird-photography 

 were inflicted upon a pair of these birds which had built 

 their nest within half-a-mile of the main street of Preston. 

 We have no pictorial record of these experiences, for the 

 very good reasons set out in the previous chapter. It 

 speaks volumes, however, for the difficulty of obtaining 

 pictures of this and other species building near the home 

 of man, that it was several seasons later, and after many 

 attempts, that the measure of success indicated by the 

 accompanying picture was attained. However, our efforts 

 were well rewarded, as we regard the photograph as being 

 amongst our very best. 



The Yellow-tailed Tit-Warbler, to give it its official 

 title, is well known to all who lead an outdoor life. 

 It inhabits the bush as well as the suburbs, and its 

 sweet, lively notes are unmistakable when once heard. 

 It is a uniform grey little bird, the soberness of whose 

 colouring is relieved only by a patch of bright yellow 

 feathers at the base of the tail. Even this enlivening 

 touch is hardly noticeable, except during flight. The Tom-tit 

 has a very near cousin which inhabits similar country, but 

 which is not found as a rule so close to dwellings. Some 

 points of difference between the two species will be appar- 

 ent on comparison of the photograph reproduced here with 



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