186 THE TITS 



for a week, in December 1910, a little party of seven were to be seen 

 hunting for insects amongst the bare lichen-covered branches of a 

 certain group of oak-trees I passed daily; then they disappeared. 

 Three weeks later these trees were again invaded by a family party. 

 Herein they differ from other titmice, which Avill generally be found 

 frequenting certain favourite spots at some hour of the day. Evidently 

 longtailed-tits believe in " seeing life," and refuse to become merely 

 parochial like great and blue-tits. Nevertheless, when spring comes 

 round again, these little wanderers return with almost unfailing 

 regularity to the vicinity of their old homes, provided their nests were 

 not molested the previous season. 



Pairing takes place early ; and it is not at all unusual to find a 

 complete nest at the end of March before the hedgerows are green. 

 Even then, this most aesthetic building may be overlooked, so 

 completely does it tone with old gnarled and lichen-covered thom- 

 hedges, which are often a favourite habitat of the longtailed-tit. 

 The long oval, or bottle-shaped nest is a unique and very beautiful 

 construction, the building of which takes ten or twelve days to 

 complete ; for every tiny bit of material used is woven together with 

 infinite patience and skill. 



On April 2, 1908, I found a nest as usual in a certain group 

 of gorse-bushes on the outskirts of a garden where birds were loved 

 and unmolested. The nest was then one and a half inches high, 

 open and cup-shaped like a chaffinch's. The next three days were 

 spent in watching the growth of this dwelling. Sheep's wool combed 

 and carded till delicate as spun cobweb or cocoon silk formed 

 the basis of its structure ; yet so compressed and felted together that 

 the whole building was water-tight and impervious to draughts. The 

 moulding of the interior was one of the prettiest sights I have ever 

 seen. Each time one of the tiny builders brought a bit of material, 

 whether moss, lichen, or a single feather, this was inserted somewhere 

 in the wall of the nest ; then, with bill and claws, loose ends of wool 

 were " combed " afresh, till the added substance was imbedded in fine 



