198 BIRD LIFE GLIMPSES 



It was in a hedge opposite to a plantation like this 

 — a hedge made of planted branches of the Scotch 

 fir, such as are common in these parts — that I once 

 watched a pair of long-tailed tits building their 

 much more wonderful nest. Like the coal-tits they 

 are joint-labourers, and both seem equally zealous. 

 Often they arrive together, each with something in 

 its bill. One only enters, the other stays outside 

 and waits for it to come out, before going in itself. 

 This, at least, is the usual regime. Occasionally, if 

 the bird inside stays there a very long time, the other 

 gets impatient, and goes in too, so that both are in 

 the nest together — but this one does not often see. 

 It is a prettier sight to see one hang at the entrance 

 with a feather in his bill, which is received by the 

 other — just popping out its head — upon which he 

 flies away. This is in the later stages, when the 

 nest is being lined, and when the birds come, time 

 after time, at intervals of a few minutes, each with 

 a feather in its bill. White these feathers often 

 are, and of some size (so that they look very con- 

 spicuous). I have seen a bird, once, with two — two 

 broad, soft, white ones that curled round, backwards, 

 on each side of its head, so as almost to hide it. 

 Such feathers must be brought from some particular 

 place — a poultry-yard most probably — and both 

 birds arriving with them, at the same time, is proof, 

 or at least strong evidence, that they do their collect- 

 ing in company. I have noticed, too, that if one bird 

 comes with a feather of a diff^erent kind — for 

 instance, a long straight one instead of a soft curled 

 one — the other does too, showing how close is the 

 association. At other times they bring lichen — with 



