NESTING-SERIES OF BRITISH BIRDS. 163 
No. 72a, COAL-TITMOUSE. (Parus ater.) 
The British race of the Coal-Titmouse differs slightly from the 
Continental form in haying the back of a more olive-brown colour. On 
this account it has been separated under the name of Parus britannicus. 
It is a common resident throughout the British Isles, but is most 
numerous in Scotland. Its principal food consists of caterpillars and 
other insects ; but nuts and seeds are also eaten. The nest, which is 
placed in a hole in a tree, or im the crevice in a wall, etc., is made of 
moss and wool and lined with hair and feathers. From seven to eleven 
white eggs spotted with light red are laid towards the end of April or in 
MET Hertfordshire, May. 
Presented by W. R, Ogilvie-Grant, Esq. 
No. 73. LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. (/Egithalus roseus ) 
Our resident form of the Long-tailed Tit or “ Bottle-Tit ” is generally 
distributed throughout the British Islands and ranges thence across 
France and West Germany to North Italy and the northern part of the 
Balkan Peninsula. Like its allies, tlie food consists of insects and 
their larvee. The oval nest, formed of moss and wool felted together 
with spiders’ webs and encrusted with lichens, is thickly lined with 
feathers and has the entrance in the upper part of the side. It is 
usually placed in a bush, such as a holly, whitethorn, or furze, but, 
occasionally, in the lichen-covered branches of a tree. From seven 
to ten or more eggs are laid, after about the middle of April; they are 
white, with indistinct red spots. 
Suffolk, May. 
Presented by T. Harcourt-Powell, Esq. 
No. 74. GREAT TITMOUSE. (Parus major.) 
Our largest species of Tit, commonly called the “ Ox-eye,” is generally 
distributed over the British Islands thronghout the year. It feeds 
chiefly on insects as well as on seeds, nuts, and buds, but as the latter 
often contain noxious grubs, little real damage is done to the trees. 
The rather flat nest of moss, hair, feathers, etc., is usually placed in 
a hole ina tree or wall, but almost any convenient situation may be 
selected. The eggs are white with light red spots, and vary from 
six to twelve in number. 
Norfolk, June. 
Presented by Lord Walsingham. 
