IO 
away; apparently, the faces were never swallowed by 
the parents. It is an interesting point to observe that, 
although the nest is kept clean in this way, it 1s very full 
YOUNG GREAT TITS, TWENTY-TWO DAYS OLD 
of vermin. Why do these insect-eating birds leave these 
untouched? The food carried in to the nestlings consisted, 
almost exclusively, of small moth larvee. 
About thirty yards from the nest there was a small 
spindle-tree, which was at this time literally covered by 
the larve of the small Ermine Moth (Vponomeuta padella). 
For the first sixteen days the Great Tits made no attempt 
to take these caterpillars. Probably, they were afraid of 
the web-like material which surrounds the larve of this 
species. 
On the seventeenth day the male bird was seen to be 
carrying a grub which had not previously been observed. 
The camera-shutter was released with a crash as he was 
about to enter the box. and, in his fright, he dropped the 
caterpillar, which on examination proved to be that of the 
Ermine Moth. Having found they could take them with 
impunity, the Great Tits made short work of these garden- 
pests, for, until the young left the nest, the birds went 
backwards and forwards constantly between the spindle- 
tree and the box. On counting, they were often found to 
be paying four visits in five minutes. Frequently, the 
