308 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



had laid a second clutch of eggs on the rotten 

 powdered wood at the bottom of the hole. 



Eggs. Five to twelve, generally seven or eight ; 

 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 con- 

 fused with those of the Nuthatch if care is not 

 taken. Size about '7 by '53 in. 



Time. April, May, and June. 



Remarks. Kesident. 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 when disturbed. 



TIT, LONG-TAILED. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about five 

 and a half inches, of w r hich the bird's abnormally 

 long tail forms a considerable part ; bill very short, 

 curved above and below, and black. Irides hazel. 

 Forehead and crown white. A black streak of 

 variable width commences near the base of the 

 bill and, passing over the eye and ear-coverts, meets 

 on the back of the neck, and descending forms a 

 kind of triangle, the lowest point of which reaches 

 the middle of the back. The scapulars and rump 

 are suffused with a dull purplish-red; wing-coverts 

 and quills black, the inner ones of the latter edged 

 with white; upper tail-coverts and six centre quills 

 black, the remainder of the feathers on either side 

 of the tail being more or less white. The feathers 



