304 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



system of community. This tit has a way sometimes 

 of puffing up its feathers they are fluffy, and in 

 that state look like fur and uttering a curious sound 

 much resembling the squeak of a mouse ; hence, per- 

 haps, the affix " mouse " to its name. 



The tomtit also packs, and flies in small parties 

 almost all the year round. They remain in such parties 

 until the very time of nesting. On March 24 last, 

 while watching the approach of a snowstorm, I noticed 

 that a tall birch tree whose long, slender, weeping 

 branches showed distinctly against the dark cloud 

 seemed to have fruit hanging at the end of several of 

 the boughs. On going near I counted six tomtits, as 

 busy as they could be, pendent from as many tiny 

 drooping boughs, as if at the end of a string, and 

 swinging to and fro as the rude blast struck the tree. 

 The six in a few minutes increased to eight, then to 

 nine, then to twelve, and at last there were fourteen 

 together, all dependent from the very tiniest drooping 

 boughs, all swinging to and fro as the snowflakes came 

 silently floating by, and all chuckling and calling to 

 each other. The ruder the blast and the more they 

 swung heads downwards the merrier they seemed, 

 busily picking away at the young buds. Some of them 

 remained in the tree more than an hour. 



Peewits or lapwings not only pack in the winter, 

 but may almost be said to pass the nesting-time 

 together. There are two favourite localities in the 

 district, which has been more particularly described, 

 much frequented by these birds. One is among some 



