304 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



TIT, COAL 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about four 

 and a half inches. Bill short, straight, pointed, and 

 black. Irides hazel. Head, neck, and upper part of 

 breast black ; cheeks and nape white. Back, wing- 

 coverts, rump, and tail greyish-blue, with a huffish 

 tinge on the rump. Wing-quills brownish-grey, 

 bordered with green. Lower breast dull white ; 

 belly, flanks, vent, and under tail-coverts fawn 

 colour, slightly tinged with green. Legs, toes, and 

 claws black. 



The female closely resembles the male. This 

 bird is easily distinguished from the Marsh Tit 

 by means of the white patch on the nape of its 

 neck. 



Situation and Locality. In holes, from three or 

 four to sixteen or eighteen inches deep, in trees, 

 walls, and banks ; those in the last-named situations 

 having originally belonged to rats, mice, or moles. 

 The bird will, however, enlarge any selected hole for 

 its accommodation, if necessary. It may be found 

 in orchards, spinneys, coppices, woods, and planta- 

 tions throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and 

 Ireland. 



Materials. Dry grass, moss, wool, and hair, 

 lined liberally with feathers. 



Eggs. Five to ten, generally seven or eight, 

 white, spotted and freckled with light red, the 

 markings being generally most numerous at the 

 larger end. They bear a very close resemblance 

 to those of other members of the Tit family, but 

 a sight of the parent birds will readily distinguish 

 them. Size about -62 by -47 in. 



Time. April, May, and June. 



