336 THE LONG-TAILED TIT. 



to the thickest part of the woods. It has the active habits of 

 the tits, and also stays with us all year ; but in nest-building and 

 plumage it is not like them, so much so that some authors have 

 placed it in a genus by itself, under the appropriate name of 

 " mufflin," from the soft loose feathers of its throat being like a 

 muffler. When denuded of its feathers its body is much 

 smaller than the gold-crested wren's — considered our smallest 

 British bird. It is the only bird of its kind in Britain : its soft 

 downy plumage, muffled throat, and long tail make it more like 

 a feathered dart than a bird, for it shoots through the air like 

 an arrow. Its whole length is not 6 inches (the tail being 4) 

 and 6| in extent of wings. If its tail is long, its bill is short — 

 and seems shorter than it is — being half hid by the feathers 

 round the base ; and as both bill and tail are black it looks like 

 a dart with a black point. Its nest is still more singular — 

 being the most perfect and curious of all our birds' nests — not 

 hidden in a hole like the rest of the tits, but nearly as much 

 concealed by its own beautiful lichen-covered outside — like the 

 tree on which it is built. To suit its long tail the nest is a 

 perfect oval dome 5 by 7 inches long, the entrance is only 1J 

 in diameter and 2 inches from the top. It is composed of moss 

 and the flaxen fibres of plants, finely felted and interwoven 

 with wool, spiders' webs, and filmy shreds. The whole 

 outside is stuck over with small pieces of grey lichens, held on 

 by filaments, hair, and wool, so neatly yet so compactly formed 

 that, though most complete and strong, it is only a quarter of an 

 inch thick, and for nicety of texture vies with any foreign bird's 

 nest. But while the outside shell is so compact, the inside is 

 loosely stuffed with all sorts of feathers — no less than 2379 have 

 been taken and counted from one nest — as many as fill a hat, if 

 loosely shaken into it — from pheasants, partridges, pigeons, rooks, 

 thrushes, buntings, &c. The feathers are stuck all over the 

 inside as thickly as the lichens are over the outside — the 

 bottom and sides being closely packed — hence the great number 

 it holds. Mr Weir saw a pair begin and finish their nest in the 

 cleft of an old ash tree not fifty yards from his garden — 



" Before beginning they examined the place carefully. The under part 

 was moss ; the sides small portions of white and grey lichen moss, some 

 feathers, nd a few beech leaves, firmly interwoven with wool and spiders' 

 webs. They pressed these down with their breasts and wings, and turned 

 their bodies round in all directions. They set up a strong clicking noise, not 

 unlike a stone-chat, when first observed, but they grew so tame that they 

 paid little heed. When the male was at work the female remained on a 

 branch about a foot from the nest until he was done ; she then went in, and 

 he remained outside until she was done. They then flew off together for 



