184 THE TITS 



3. Migration. Resident within the narrow confines of its Scottish area 

 indicated above. In other parts of the British Isles it is only a rare accidental 

 visitor. Of records that can be considered reliable, two are for the south of Scotland, 

 and the remaining few for the east and south of England (cf. Gurney, Zoologist, 

 1890, p. 210). That some at least of these wanderers are of Continental origin is 

 practically certain. But the species is markedly non-migratory : it has occurred 

 only once on Heligoland (cf. Gatke, Vogelwarte Helgoland, Eng. trans., 1895, 

 p. 418). [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting-site : usually in a hole or crevice of a decayed 

 stump of a pine-tree, but also occasionally in holes of alders and birches, and some- 

 times in holes of fences and in foundations of crows' nests. The nest is built of dry 

 moss, with an inner layer of deer hair and a lining of hare's down and sometimes 

 wool, feathers, or vegetable down. Whether both sexes share in building is ap- 

 parently not recorded. Eggs as a rule only 5 or 6, quite exceptionally 7 or 8, white, 

 boldly spotted generally with a zone or cap at the big end with dark chestnut-red. 

 They are far the handsomest eggs of any of the tits, and it is rare to find a poorly 

 marked set. (PL D.) The usual time for eggs is about the end of April or early 

 in May. Observations on the incubation period and share of the sexes appear to be 

 wanting. Average size of 46 Scotch eggs, -63 x -49 in. [16 x -12'5 mm.]. Probably 

 a single brood only is reared. [F. c. B. J.] 



5. Food. Insects and their larvae, small seeds and berries (Saunders) : said 

 to feed on juniper berries, as well as insects and small seeds (Seebohm). The 

 young are fed by both parents on insects. [F. c. R. J.] 



6. Song Period. The species has no song. [E. L. T.] 



The following sub-species are described in the supplementary chapter on " Hare 

 Birds " ;- 



White-headed long-tailed tit, JEgitkalus caudatus caudatus (Linnaeus). 



Continental coal-tit, Parus ater ater Linnaeus. 



Northern willow-tit, Parus atricapillus borealis Selys-Longchamps. 



Continental crested-tit, Parus cristatus cristatus Linnaeus, or P. cristatus 

 mitratus Brehm. (The few specimens on record have never been critically examined. ) 

 [F. c. E. J.] 



