168 BLUE TITMOUSE. 



pended near a window adjoining some shrubbery 

 will afford amusement, and procure information 

 of their habits, until divested of any adhering 

 meat. At all times it is an extremely familiar 

 and fearless littie bird, allowing an observer to 

 approach very near, while it pursues its vocation 

 without apparent distrust ; and we have observed 

 that the brood or little troop frequent particular 

 localities for a considerable period, day after day, 

 in succession, as if procuring a supply of some 

 peculiar or favourite food. It breeds in the holes 

 and rents of trees, walls, or rocks, and we have 

 seen it occupy the end of a leaden water-pipe, 

 which had fallen into disuse. Mr Hewitson relates 

 his knowledge of one which " continued building 

 its nest for many days together, under the handle 

 of a pump, although its labours were daily 

 destroyed by its action." * The opening to the ' 

 place selected is generally so small as not to 

 admit of investigation without enlargement, and 

 the nest is built according to the form of the hole 

 or excavation, warm and well lined. The female, 

 when sitting, can scarcely be dislodged, even 

 when the opening has been broken into ; she will 

 hiss and snap at the intruder, and will attempt to 

 bite the hand when introduced. The egfgs are, 

 in number, generally from six to eight or nine ; 

 but Mr Hewitson mentions one instance, on 

 which he could depend, where a nest containing 

 eighteen eggs was brought to him. f The eggs, 

 like those of most of the other species, are of a 

 * Oology, ii. t Ibid. 



