THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 25 



as at Cooinbe Rawleigh ; where a pair of Blue Tits 

 reared their young in a letter box in the years 1883- 

 5; inclusive, undaunted by the postman's discharge 

 of duty. Like tlie other Tits, this species gathers 

 into droves ; on February the 27th, 1872, 

 Mr. Gatcombe " came across an extraordinary flight 

 of Titmice, composed chiefly of the Bluecap, which 

 were flitting about among the trees and bushes, and 

 every now and then descending in a body to the 

 ground, hopping about and feeding among the grass, 

 just like Finches.'' When they had to cross a held, 

 they all went in a flock, and Mr. Gatcombe 

 estimated that their numbers far exceeded a 

 hundred individuals (Zool. 1872, p. SOU). 



CRESTED TITMOUSE.— Pr/y7^s cnSfafus, Liuu. 

 A RARE visitant. On the 26th of March, 187^, 

 Baron A. von Hiigel noticed a bird of this species 

 in Chelston Lane, Torquay, which allowed of such 

 a close approach that he nearly succeeded in touching 

 it with his walking stick (Zool. 1874. p. 4065). 

 The tameness of this solitary bird exactly coincides 

 with the Editor's experience, for. while droves of 

 this Titmouse are usually shy and anxious to escape 

 notice^ the single birds that he has met with 

 invariably admitted of a very close inspection. 



Family . — SittidvE. 

 NUTHATCH.— >5/Y/rt ca'sia, Wolf. 



A FAIRLY numerous resident in our parks and 

 orchards, and a delightful l)ird to study, whether 



