206 BLUE TIT. 
search, lest he should rouse the vengeance of some lurking 
snake or adder.’ 
The nest, which is composed of grass and moss, and lined 
with hair, wool, and feathers, and is built in March or 
April, is usually placed in a hole of a tree, about half a 
dozen or a dozen feet from the ground, or even close to it. 
Frequently a hole in a wall is made use of, sometimes the 
top of a pump, though the bird may be continually disturbed, 
or the nest even in the first imstance destroyed by the 
action of the handle, the entrance being the cleft for the 
handle to work in. 
Speaking of one instance of this kind, Bishop Stanley 
says, ‘It happened that during the time of building, and 
laying the eggs, the pump had not been in use; and when 
again set going, the female was sitting; and it was naturally 
supposed that the motion of the pump handle would drive 
her away. The young brood however were hatched safely, 
without any other misfortune than the loss of a part of the 
tail of the sitting bird, which was rubbed off by the friction 
of the pump handle.’ And again, ‘We knew of another pair 
of Titmice, which, for several days persevered in inserting, 
close upon the point of the handle, the materials for a nest; 
though every time the handle was raised, they were either 
erushed or forced out, till the patience of the persevering 
little builders was fairly exhausted.’ The most extraordinary 
situation, however, that’ I have heard or read of for the 
location of the nest of this, or of any other species of bird, 
was within the jaws of the skeleton of a man, who had 
been executed and hung in chains for murder. It would 
almost seem a realization of the fable of our ehildhood, 
respecting a somewhat similar locality therein assigned to 
the nests of Swallows. 
Mr. Hewitson records the following, communicated to him 
by Mr. Heysham, of Carlisle:—‘A few years ago, when upon 
an entomological excursion, wishing to examine the decayed 
stump of a tree, which was broken to pieces for that pur- 
pose, and the fragments dispersed to a considerable distance 
by a severe blow, a Blue Titmouse was found sitting upon 
fourteen eggs, in a small cavity of the root; and, notwith- 
standing the above severe shock, she remained immovable, 
till forcibly taken off the nest: sometimes, even if taken off, 
she will return.’ Again, ‘An earthen bottle was placed on 
the garden wall of Mrs. Chorley, of Bolton, near Lancaster; 
