1886-87.] The Parida;, or Titmice. 49 



cient numbers to become familiarised with its note and general 

 appearance. The name " marsh " implies a fondness for swampy 

 localities, but in the district of Snitterfield it was frequenting 

 a thick forest of small trees (ash principally) known as "The 

 Bushes," and miles away from any marsh. The nest of one 

 which I found accidentally was in the hollow stump of an ash- 

 tree, rising about a foot from the ground. The bird alighted on 

 the edge of the stump, and dropped into the hole, which ap- 

 peared to be about eighteen inches deep. The aperture was 

 much too narrow to admit the hand, so, gently inserting a thin 

 twig, the hissing noise began at once. Being very anxious to 

 identify the species, and be satisfied that it was not the cole- 

 tit, I rattled the twig against the edge of the hole ; but the little 

 creature was not to be dislodged so easily, and it was only 

 after several louder applications of the twig that it evidently 

 lost patience, and flew up the nai-row space like a shot, perch- 

 ing on a tree close by, and chirping in a very angry tone in- 

 deed. Having now a good opportunity of observing both it 

 and its partner, who was attracted by the noise of its mate, I 

 was much pleased to distinguish the marsh-tit, previously al- 

 most unknown to me. Further investigations in the same dis- 

 trict proved them to be very numerous. It has been found 

 nesting in various parts of Scotland, and was seen by a friend 

 of mine inhabiting a wood a few miles south of Inverness. 



Before calling attention to the long-tailed tit, it may be as 

 well, in a few words, to advert to its crested congener. It has 

 fallen to the lot of few ornithologists to recognise this species 

 in the flesh, and it must on all accounts be considered a rare 

 bird. The only district where it is really known to frequent 

 regularly is Strathspey, among the pine and fir forests that 

 skirt the base of the Grampians east of Grantown, in that 

 lovely locality Rothiemurchus and Glenmore. The extent 

 of wood is so great on the Gordon and Seafield estates, that 

 one might go specially a dozen times to look for it, and never 

 have the felicity to come across a single specimen ; but it is be- 

 yond doubt that it makes its home in the neighbourhood men- 

 tioned. The fact of its being so difficult of discovery is in 

 reality the only safeguard against its extermination — for to 

 speak truth, and entre nous, ornithologists are in many cases 

 little better than hypocrites, in so far that they do not always 



VOL. ir. D 



