MARSH TITMOUSE. 175 



some of the others. In its habits it prefers low 

 brushwood to the wood, forest, or hedge row, 

 and is found seeking its food near the ground, 

 though, at the same time, it does not appear to 

 possess any of the habits of the aquatic type, the 

 food being principally insects. In; winter, Mr 

 Selby says, " it exhibits no dislike to carrion," 

 it feeds also on seeds and kernels, among which 

 are particularly mentioned as favourites those of 

 the thistle and sun-flower. It is said to breed in 

 the holes of trees, frequently selecting a pollard 

 willow, often forming a cavity itself for the recep- 

 tion of the nest, the materials of which consists 

 of grass and moss for the skeleton, and of the soft 

 pappus or down of the willow catkins for lining.* 

 The eggs seven or eight in number, round in 

 form, and spotted with rufous. We are not 

 aware that any particular note in spring or pairing 

 time has been noticed. Its geographical range 

 is known to extend from Italy on the one side, to 

 Russia and Siberia on the other; but it has not been 

 ascertained to reach beyond the bounds of Europe. 

 The species of North America, parus atricapillus, 

 for some time confounded with it, though closely 

 allied, is quite distinct, and is at present known 

 only as a North American bird. We have given 

 a woodcut of the head of the latter, which will 

 serve to point out the most prominent distinc- 

 tions in the markings. The head, nape of the 

 neck, and throat, black ; the former in a line with 

 the eyes, forming a very distinct and marked cowl 

 * Hewitson's Oology. 



