DEATH OF TIT-WILLOW 127 



Mrs. Brightwen, in her charming book ' Wild 

 Nature Won by Kindness,' speaks of the cole tit as 

 storing food, and I have seen the same assertion 

 in another book about birds. Still, unless a store 

 has been found somewhere and traced to the bird, 

 I think it must be a mistake. The male bird does 

 not even carry it away, except to a place where 

 he can eat it comfortably. 



I am grieved to record the death of Tit-willow. 

 He was found lying dead on the top of the wall 

 lately, and so it is his poor little hen who has to 

 wear the w r illow T ! At first she did not seem to 

 miss her mate ; but one evening it seemed to strike 

 her that she had not seen him for some time, and 

 she sat upon the rose-tree and piped for him in a 

 most plaintive way, looking anxiously all about 

 her and in amongst the branches of the rose, as if 

 she thought he must be hiding somewhere. Since 

 then I do not think her motions have been quite 

 so lively ; but she carries off the food, and flutters 

 and hangs about the window, as much as ever. 



The tapping tit has returned, or another has 

 taken to the habit. I think it must be the same 

 bird, he is so very much at home, and so masterful. 

 Very lame he is too ; he shakes his wings at me 

 most lovingly and gratefully, particularly since he 

 has been treated as an invalid. He appeared for 

 some time with one poor little leg tucked up in 



