Titmice. 105 



The LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE (Parus cazidatus). 

 This bird is known throughout England by different 

 local names " Long Tom," "Bottle Tit," "Poke- 

 pudding," "Long-tailed Mag," "Muffin," and "Mum- 

 ruffin." It often associates with the Cole Tits and 

 Blue Tits, but is more generally seen in flocks :of twelve 

 or fourteen of its own species. It is said to feed en- 

 tirely on the small insects infesting the branches and 

 leaves of trees, and on the larvae of flies, and on this 

 account it is very difficult to keep in confinement : to 

 reconcile it to any other, food has been repeatedly 

 tried in vain. It builds a very curious nest, like a 

 bottle hanging down from the branch, of moss and 

 lichens, lined with feathers, with a small hole near the 

 top; sometimes it has a second entrance door. Some 

 nests have been found with sixteen eggs in them, and 

 the young birds seem quite to distend their house by 

 their movements. The Long-tailed Titmice are con- 

 tinually flitting about among, bushes and trees during 

 the day, and towards evening gather themselves into 

 a compact mass, fighting for the inmost place, till they 

 have established themselves for the night. 



