208 



N. W. Coast of Wales, it is decidedly rare, and is not found on Ang- 

 lesea or the Isle of Man. Although as a rule much less numerous than 

 the other Tits, it is common locally, e. g. in parts of Pembroke and Kent. 

 In Scotland the records from the Spey valley and the Forth area appear 

 to refer to the Willow Tit, but probably the present species breeds lo- 

 cally up to about lat. 56", and possibly in other localities S. of the 

 Grampians. 

 Nest. Placed in holes in the decaying wood of old willows and alders, 



less often in oaks, hazels, apple trees, etc., and frequently in dead stumps 

 or holes in bank sides, and occasionally in fence or gate posts. Some 

 nests are in natural holes of varying depth, others (which may however 

 prove to be the work of the Willow Tit) are neatly cut out by the 

 birds to a depth of 6 or 8 inches, ending in a circular chamber, larger 

 than the entrance. The Marsh Tit occasionally breeds in nesting boxes, 

 while an abnormal nest is said to have been found built in the fork of 

 of a tree overhanging the water in Lanark (Annals Scot. Nat. Hist. 

 1898, p. 180). The foundation of the nest consists of moss, with a fel- 

 ted layer of rabbits' fur or willow or thistle down as lining, but no fea- 

 thers. The parents remove the chips while excavating the nest hole. 

 Eggs. Usually 7 or 8, sometimes fewer, while sets of 9 to 11 and even 



12 have been recorded (Zool. 1894, p. 345, 429 etc.). As very few of 

 the eggs in collections are properly authenticated, it is uncertain whether 

 the variation which appears to exist, is due to confusion between this 

 species and the Willow Tit. Some eggs are white, others sparsely 

 spotted with dull reddish, or boldly marked with dark reddish brown. 

 The eggs have been found covered, in the absence of the hen while 

 laying was in progress. 



Breeding lu the Midlands the clutch is generally complete about May 8, and 



Season, towards the end of April in the S. of England. Like other Tits the 

 hen sits very closely, 'puffing', and refusing to move. A second brood 

 is apparently sometimes reared late in May or in June. 



Measure- Avcragc sizc of 47 eggs, 15.63 X 12.25 mm.. Max. 16.6 X 13.2, 



Min. 14.5 X 12.2 and 15 x 11.8 mm. Average weight of 12 full eggs, 

 1.153 g. (E. H. Read). These figures however require confirmation. 



b. Scandinavian Marsh Tit. P. palusti'is palustris L. 



Egg: Dresser, pi. — , fig. 37. 



Foreign Names: Norway: Siimpmeise. Russia: Sinitia bolotnaja. 

 Sweden: Kdrrmes. 



P. palustris L. Dresser, t. c. (part.). P. palustris palustris L. Hartert, 

 A^og. Pal. Fauna, p. 370. 



ments. 



