ORNITHOLOGICAL | Motes FROM A SOUTH ER SUBURB. 
BEOE TIT. 
The Blue Tit is equally common with the above, and has 
to my knowledge bred twice in Brixton gardens during the 
last seven years. Its lively spring note is usually heard in 
January, early or late in the month, according to the character 
of the season; and this note becomes almost a monotonous 
reiteration in February when the elms come into flower; these 
birds evidently find much insect life to their liking in the ex- 
panding buds. This species 1s, to my mind, the most lively, 
bustling, and acrobatic of all the Tits, preferring, to all appear- 
ances, to feed in quaint attitudes. They abound in Dulwich 
Wood in spring, and many remain to breed there. Their lively 
music becomes hushed when the large family requires constant 
attention, but when the full-fledged young are able to travel 
about with their parents these become fussily noisy in their 
anxiety to keep their progeny together. 
In October a good many appear in the Sibeel attracted 
by the sunflower and other seeds; these are probably foreign 
migrants. Throughout the winter a few—usually in pairs— 
may be seen at the bird table, or searching for insects and 
their eggs along the walls; at the former they show both pluck 
and pugnacity, and will face any bird except their big cousin, 
phe) Great Vit, 
COLLET T. 
The Coletit is a much scarcer bird, but owing to its high- 
pitched love-call is not likely to be overlooked; this note is 
seldom heard before April. They certainly breed sparingly in 
the Sydenham district, although I have never Sea in find- 
ing a nest. The species is very partial to trees of the fir and 
pine tribe, in which it doubtless finds a special and appropriate 
food. A few—on the move—appear in our gardens in Sep- 
tember and October, but in the winter months the bird is of 
rare occurrence here. 
STARLING. 
The Starling is common, and is truly a most cheerful song- 
ster in the early spring. It breeds in considerable numbers in 
the roofs of the houses around, but of course by far the larger 
number nest in the holes in the old tree trunks in the parks and 
woods to the south of us. In February the yellow bill is 
acquired, and the birds begin courting and even building if the 
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