434 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



laid with the exception of one. Before the bird 

 gave up the task as hopeless she deposited no less 

 than thirty-two eggs inside the old hive. White in 

 ground-colour, spotted and freckled with pale red. 

 The markings vary in size, number, intensity, and 

 position. Sometimes they are generally distributed, 

 at others they form a zone at the larger end of the 

 egg. They are larger than the eggs of any other 

 Tit, but are likely to be confused with those of 

 the Nuthatch if care is not taken. Size about 

 .7 by .53 in. (See Plate III.) 



Time. April, May, and June. 



Remarks. Resident. Notes: a clear, pealing 

 pinker, pinker, repeated several times. Local and 

 other names : Oxeye, Pickcheese, Great Black- 

 headed Tomtit, Blackcap, Great Titmouse, Bee- 

 biter, Tom Collier, " Sit-ye-down." Sits closely, 

 and hisses like a snake when disturbed. This 

 bird is somewhat like the Robin in its love for 

 odd nesting quarters. Last spring I had three 

 nests shown to me beneath upturned plant pots 

 standing in gardens, although there were plenty 

 of eligible nesting sites in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood. 



NEWLY FLEDGED GREAT TITS. 



