310 THE TITMICE. 



at Mauno, in latitude 68 35', it is almost the only bird to 

 be found during the winter. 



"The Siberian titmouse," says M. Malm, "is not only 

 most fearless, but possessed of an extraordinary degree of 

 curiosity ; and I have often had the greatest enjoyment 

 in watching its movements. On one occasion I stood for 

 upwards of half-an-hour, under a thick spruce-pine, on the 

 look-out for one of these birds, which I heard clattering in 

 the branches above me, but without being able to get sight 

 of it. At length, however, it left its perch on the top of the 

 tree, and to my great astonishment, as I was standing per- 

 fectly still at the foot of the same tree, with the gun under my 

 arm, it descended with the rapidity of an arrow, and took 

 post on the barrel, near the muzzle ! Here it remained for a 

 long while, and it was not until I had driven it away with my 

 hand, that I was enabled to shoot it. 



" Another time, when out for the purpose of shooting 

 Ripor, my gun being charged with large shot, I also met 

 with a Siberian titmouse ; and whilst occupied in changing 

 the shot, it came so very near to me, that I was enabled 

 without difficulty to knock it down with the ramrod of my 

 gun, whereby powder and shot were saved." 



This bird, he adds, makes its nest in a hollow pine-tree. 

 The under portion of it consists of moss, which, without 

 any kind of arrangement, is stopped into the hole. Above 

 this again is a good portion of the hair of the lemming ; at 

 times, indeed, pieces of the skin of that animal. The eggs, 

 which are from seven to nine in number, are white, and 

 marked with light-red spots and blotches. In shape they 

 resemble those of the common creeper. 



