224 Titmice. 



that some of its notes much, resemble the sound 

 made when sharpening a saw. Notwithstanding 

 that the song has little melody, it is wonderfully 

 lively and pleasant, and was evidently much 

 admired by Belon, who, in his " Portraits 

 d'Oyseaux, &c.," wrote as follows of the great-tit 

 and the blue-tit respectively : 



Au temps d'Autonne il y a des mesanges, 

 En grand foison, qui bautent par les boys, 

 Et font des oeufs douze ou quinze par fois 

 Oyseaux petits et qui chantent comme anges. 



and 



L'este es bois la mesange bleue est, 

 Et nous vient voir en Hy ver et Autonne, 

 Le doux chanter d'icelle plaisir donne, 

 A tout esprit, a qui 1'escouter plaist. 



These birds are early breeders, and their " note of 

 incubation^ can be heard in February. They 

 build their nests in holes, in trees, walls, rocks, or 

 banks; and there is little doubt that, if a hole 

 suitable for their purpose cannot be found, they 

 will hew one out for themselves, even, in the case 

 of a wall, removing mortar and small stones for 

 the purpose. They are, however, by no means 

 particular, and often choose most extraordinary 

 nesting-places, such as the inside of a pump, the 

 frame of a window, or an inverted flower-pot or 

 bottle. In London we have known a blue-tit build 

 her nest and hatch her young in the interior of a 

 lamp-post, to which she obtained access through a 

 a small hole. But perhaps the most extraordinary 



