346 PARIDE. 



the same time remark that many generic divisions are now 

 proposed and received among ornithological systematic wri- 

 ters, which do not, when compared with the present exam- 

 ple, appear to possess distinctive characters equal in value to 

 those exhibited as belonging to Mecistura. 



The Long-tailed Tit is a well-known and common species, 

 that may be seen generally wherever there are woods, thickets, 

 shrubberies, and tall hedges. It remains in this country the 

 whole year, and in its habits among trees it resembles other 

 Tits, being active and lively, almost incessantly in motion, 

 hopping or flitting from branch to branch in search of food ; 

 but is more select in its choice than other Tits appear to be, 

 and confines itself almost, if not entirely, to insects and their 

 larvEe. The nest of this species is another example of inge- 

 nious construction, combining beauty of appearance with 

 security and warmth. In shape it is nearly oval, with one 

 small hole in the upper part of the side by which the bird 

 enters. I have never seen more than one hole. The out- 

 side of this nest sparkles with silver-coloured lichens adhering 

 to a firm texture of moss and wool, the inside profusely lined 

 with soft feathers. The nest is generally placed in the mid- 

 dle of a thick bush, and so firmly fixed, that it is mostly 

 found necessary to cut out the portion of the bush containing 

 it, if desirous of preserving the natural appearance and form 

 of the nest. In this species, the female is known to be the 

 nest maker, and to have been occupied from a fortnight to 

 three weeks in completing her habitation. In this she de- 

 posits from ten to twelve eggs ; but a larger number are occa- 

 sionally found : they are small and white, with a few pale red 

 specks, frequently quite plain, measuring seven lines in 

 length, and five lines in breadth. The young family of the 

 year keep company with the parent birds during their first 

 autumn and winter, and generally crowd close together on 

 the same branch at roosting time, looking, when thus hud- 



