98 RUDDY-BREASTED BIRDS. 



Nest. — Of dead leaves of sedges and reeds, lined 

 with reed-heads, and placed (not suspended) near the 

 ground among rushes or coarse grass. 



This beautiful bird, now become very rare, occurs 

 only in the reed -beds of the Norfolk Broads. The 

 situation, the bright colouring of the bird, the con- 

 spicuous moustaches or ' beard ' — a wisp of black 

 feathers at each side of the bill, set in high relief 

 by the white of the throat — and the inordinately 

 long tail, itself as long as the body of the bird, 

 preclude the possibility of confusion. 



LOJ^G-TAILED TIT— 5^ inches, of which the tail consti- 

 tutes more than half. Head and throat white, with 

 black stripe over the eye ; hind-part of neck and back 

 black, with rosy patch on each shoulder ; lower back 

 also rosy ; wings and tail black, the outer feathers of 

 the latter partly white ; under parts rosy. Nests and 

 feeds in bushes and trees. 



LONG-TAILED TIT.— Plate 44. 5| inches, of 

 which the tail alone measures more than 3 inches. 

 Head and throat dull white ; stripe over the eyes 

 black ; hind -neck and upper back black, with a 

 rosy patch on each shoulder ; lower back also rosy ; 

 wings and tail black, the outer feathers of the latter 

 partly white ; under parts rosy. Resident. 



Eggs. — 7-10, or more, white, speckled with reddish- 

 brown about the larger end ; -53 x "42 inch (plate 125). 



Nest. — Oval, with a hole at the side, formed of 

 moss, wool, and spiders' webs, covered Avith silvery 

 lichens outside, and lined profusely with feathers. 

 It is placed usually in a thick hedge, but also in 



