THE COAL TIT. 37 



It is a very lively and active bird, too, and one of 

 Nature's acrobats, never still for a moment, excepting 

 when asleep; while at other times it is ever on the 

 move, now clinging head downwards to a branch, now 

 turning a complete somersault, and peering all the time 

 into every scrap of moss or lichen that may be growing 

 to the bough on which it has taken up its position, so 

 that well-hidden indeed must be the insect or the batch 

 of insect-eggs that escapes its keen sight, or reposes 

 beyond the reach of its ready bill. 



The late Rev. F. O. Morris, himself a true lover of 

 Nature and a keen observer of her methods, no less than 

 an able exponent of them, was a strong supporter and 

 advocate of these much misunderstood and sorely per- 

 secuted birds, which, as he repeated over and over 

 again, do infinitely more good than harm to the horti- 

 culturist. 



It is true they knock off a few buds some of which 

 may not be diseased, but how many does the gardener 

 himself remove when he is pruning his trees ? Or how 

 many does he destroy when he discharges his gun, 

 loaded with small shot, at a pair of useful Tits, who 

 all the time are intent on protecting him from his many 

 insect foes? "The man who shoots an Owl", wrote 

 Mr. Morris, "is an encourager of vermin", and if the 

 name of Tit be substituted for that of the "Prowler of 

 the Night", the remark is equally correct. 



An acquaintance of mine has a large garden in which 



