48 IN BIRD-LAND 



bracken without any kind of nest, very much 

 resemble their surroundings ; but when sitting, the 

 hen is very difficult to discover, and unless one 

 can catch sight of her large black, bright eye we 

 may easily pass her by unobserved. Some sit very 

 close, others when ' approached feign lameness or 

 a broken wing, dragging themselves along the 

 ground but keeping in advance of the intruder. 

 This clever ruse, inspired by instinct, answers well 

 in the case of a dog, but of course to experienced 

 egg-collectors the bird unwittingly betrays the 

 locality of her nest. 



There are great numbers of Titmice in pur 

 suburban woods, including five different species. 

 The Blue Titmouse is by far the commonest, being 

 especially so during winter months, when they go 

 about in parties, and in company with the Golden- 

 crested Wrens, Long-tailed Titmice, and Tree- 

 Creepers. In the orchards they "work" the trees 

 very methodically, starting at the beginning of a 

 row and going on to the end ; then they return 

 down the next row. 



The Blue Titmouse looks like an inoffensive 

 little fellow enough when in this industrious com- 

 pany, but when seen under other circumstances no 

 bird more spiteful could be found. In a tree near 

 our garden some one once set a trap baited with 



