44 BRITISH BIRDS, THEIK EGGS AND NESTS. 



ground which has been made by some small quadruped. Like 



the other Tits, if necessary it will enlarge a hole in a tree which 



it finds already such as nearly to suit its requirements. Six to 

 eight eggs are laid, white, and spotted with faint red. 



74. MARSH TITMOUSE. (Parus palustris}. 



Coalhead, Black-cap, Willow-biter. A plentiful species in 

 places ; but as its narrte intimates, with a preference for districts' 

 with the peculiar low growth of bush and willow found in km 

 fenny countries. It makes its nest in old willows and the low 

 stunted trunks of pollard trees, and will labour hard to make a 

 nearly suitable hole quite serviceable. It is said to carry the 

 chips it makes quite away to some distance. The nest is better 

 built than those of the Tits hitherto named, of moss and wool ; 

 and the number of eggs varies from five or six to eight or even 

 ten. They are of the usual Tom-tit type, white, spotted with red. 



75. LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. (Parus candatus.) 

 Long-tailed Mag, Mum-ruffin, Bottle-tit, Bottle-torn, Long- 

 tailed Capon, Long-tail Pie, Caper Long-tail, Oven-builder, 

 Poke-pudding, Mufflin, &c., &c. The beautiful, even wonderful 

 nest of this little bird must be well-known to almost all nest- 

 fanci'TS oval, of great size compared with the tiny architect ; 

 built, too, entirely by the female, wondrously compacted with 

 moss and wool, and "sparkling with lichens" affixed to the 

 outside, it affords access by one hole only, on the upper part of 

 one side, to the inside most warmly lined with feathers. So 

 thoroughly is it secured to the sticks which support it, that it is 

 scarcely possible to obtain an entire one without cutting the 

 sticks for removal also. The eggs are often ten in number, and 

 sometimes one or two more, white, and very slightly specked 

 with red, if at all. What the little bird does with her long tail 

 when sitting, is a marvel. The young, when able to fly, keep 

 much together and with their parents-; and often, when at rest, 

 sit very close together on one branch, so as to present a doubtful 

 looking feathery lump to the observer's eye. Fig. 17, plate III. 



76. BEARDED TITMOUSE. (Parus biarmicus). 



The male of this species is, indeed, a beautiful bird. They are 

 met with in sufficient abundance in many districts in England, 

 e.g.y about the Norfolk Broads, the Meres in adjacent counties, 

 as well as in Surrey and Middlesex. Until lately, from the 

 fenny nature of the soil of their habitat, they have been less 

 observed than any other birds ; but now their habits are much 

 better known. Their nest is often made of various finer sedges 



