Hexxixger, ox the Parid.e of Germaxy. 11 



notes. Early in Alarch we hear these notes when intense 

 rivalry exists among the males for the affections of some 

 coveted female. 



There is no rest in the life of the Great Tit, nor is it ever 

 disgruntled except on. rare occasions. In this, as well as in its 

 inquisitiveness, it is an exact counte-rpart of our House Wren 

 or Bewick's Wren. Its actions are a revelation of mouselike 

 rapidity, dodging, turning from side to side on a twig, creep- 

 ing through holes, prying into the stable or quarreling with a 

 colleague. At times the bird is .-o grotesque and comical that 

 you cannot suppress a fit of laughter, especially since it seems 

 to take everything in dead earnest. It looks at you as much as 

 to say : 'Did you ever see a more astute being ?' 



Alas, the Great Tit has the same murderous quality of char- 

 acter as the Blue Tit. 



The Great Tit likes to use the same domicile as that of the 

 previous seaiion. Into this cavity the female drags moss, 

 feathers, wool, and other materials ; she is accompanied by the 

 male who, however, does net help in carrying the material, in 

 which respect be is like the Indian whose idea is 'Big Chief 

 no work, squaw work.' After the foundation has been laid 

 the industrious worker spies out the cattle and horse hairs that 

 are left hanging on the bushes and thorn hedges with which to 

 line the nest. In placing and arranging the lining she uses 

 both bill and feet. The eggs are from seven to thirteen in 

 number and measure 17.5 by 13.5 millimeters. 



While the female is performing the office of incubation the 

 male supplies her with caterpillars, and after the young have 

 hatched he joins the female and redoubles his efforts to supply 

 the loudly clamoring young. A second brood is generally 

 reared, for by the end of ]\Iay the young of the first brood are 

 ready to fly. 



Besides the cavities supplied by nature I have found these 

 birds breeding in holes in telegraph and telephone poles. They 

 also have regular sleeping holes which are not, however, used 

 for breeding purposes. 



The Swamp or Alarsh Tit (Penthestes pahistris) has always 



