86 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 
probably the summer’s brood, that I have chiefly met 
with it. 
Though insects form a considerable portion of its 
food, yet it is more a ground feeder than any of the 
others, and in the winter season it busily searches 
amongst the withered leaves for seeds, especially under 
the beech trees, the nuts of this tree being a favourite 
food. It is also very partial to the seeds of the birch, 
on the long pendulous twigs of which it clings in almost 
every position, swinging about with each passing breeze. 
Its more terrestrial habits are also shown by the position 
in which it places its nest, a hole in a bank or under 
the roots of a tree being often chosen for that purpose. 
I have heard its monotonous note as early as the 24th 
of January. 
In our neighbourhood the Marsh Titmouse (P. palus- 
tris) is hardly so abundant as the cole. Jt is not by 
any means confined to low or marshy situations, for we 
have few such around us, but 1 have met with it far 
from water. The notes uttered by the great tit are like 
the whetting of a saw, but this is far more correctly 
imitated by the marsh tit; indeed, I have often been 
surprised at the close similarity, and have been tempted 
to look round for the sawyer. Their cry resembles the 
words “ Chika, chika, chika,” repeated four or five times 
in succession, and ending with a shorter syllable, “ chike.” 
Its habits are much the same as those of the others of 
the tribe, perpetually in motion, seeking its food in the 
crevices of the bark of the trees which it frequents ; but, 
as far as I have observed, it does not associate with the 
other species, but keeps together in small parties. 
The long-tailed Tit (P. caudatus) is the last I have 
to notice, for, as far as I know, neither P. cristatus nor 
