226 Titmice. 



as described, but so devoted a mother is she, that 

 she will even allow the branch containing her nest 

 to be sawn off and carried to a distance without 

 deserting her eggs. The young birds, which 

 resemble their parents, with the exception that 

 their colours are not; so bright, remain together 

 until the ensuing spring; thus forming little 

 troops, they may be seen flitting together from 

 tree to tree in pursuit of food. 



All London birds suffer from the dirt and grime 

 of town, but titmice, from their habit of creeping 

 about the trunks and boughs of trees and shrubs, 

 lose all their beautiful colouring and become, 

 especially after such a series of fogs as we have 

 lately experienced, the blackest and grimiest little 

 birds imaginable. But whether clean or dirty 

 they are always sprightly and most friendly, and 

 will never fail to afford amusement by their antics 

 to those who, being lucky enough to possess 

 gardens, encourage them by supplying for them 

 their favourite dainty, a bone or a piece of suet. 



