312 BBITKH BIBD^' NESTS. 



RemarJis. — Eesident. Notes, a sharp cliirrup 

 or twitter, varied by a lower and hoarser note. 

 Local and other names : Mufflin, Poke Pudding, 

 Longpod, Bottle Tit, Oven-builder, Caper Long- 

 tail, Long-tail Pie, Long-tailed Capon, Bottle Tom, 

 Mum Puffin, Long-tailed Mag, Huckmuck (a name 

 also applied to the Willow Warbler), Longtailed 

 Mufflin, etc. Sits closely, with the tip of her tail 

 protruding from the hole. 



TIT, MARSH, 



Description of Parent Birds, — Length about four 

 and a half inches. Bill short, straight, sharp-pointed, 

 and black. Irides dark hazel. Forehead, crown, 

 and nape deep black. Back, wing-coverts, and uj^per 

 tail-coverts ashy brown, mixed wdth a greenish 

 tint. Wing and tail-quills greyish-brown, with 

 edges of a lighter tinge. Cheeks dirty white ; chin 

 black ; throat and breast dull greyish- white ; belly 

 and vent of the same colour, tinged with brown. 

 Legs, toes, and claws bluish-black. 



The female is similar in appearance to the male- 

 The bird may be easily distinguished from the Coal 

 Tit by its having no white on the nape or wing- 

 coverts. 



Situation and Localitij. — Holes in trees, preferably 

 pollards, gate-posts, walls, and banks, at no great 

 height from the ground. Instances are on record 

 of rabbit-burrows and rat-holes doing duty as nesting 

 sites. In orchards, woods, by the side of sluggish 

 rivers, and in hedgerows of cultivated districts. 

 It is met with in most parts of England, suitable 

 to its habits. Scotland and Ireland can both claim 



