THIRD WEEK IN JUNE 153 
of much art (see nest of long-tailed tit in 
Port 2orp.-36)) *The: whole structure’ \is 
solid and strong, resembling felt, the walls 
being quite an inch thick. After photo- 
graphing it, I pulled it out from its hangings 
(I had removed all the twigs in front for the 
photo) and found I could turn it inside out 
like a glove without tearing it! Think then 
what a comfortable, safe, and warm home it 
is for the tender and diminutive inmates, 
that hatch out from the smallest of all the 
British birds’ eggs. But at the same time 
it is astonishing how a family of nine or ten 
or more, which they generally are, can live in 
such a confined space and amongst a mass of 
feathers, without being suffocated! And how 
are they all fed too, without one or more 
being neglected ? 
Returning another way we came upon a 
nest which was empty, but on the edge lay 
some pieces of shells which were white, with 
pale purplish-red specks. Seen from below 
(Plate XXVIII) it was quite different in ap- 
pearance to nests built with dried grass and 
