WINTER FOOD OF BIRDS. 121 



exertions of two little creatures in providing for, and 

 feeding, with all the incumbrances of feathers and tails, 

 fourteen young ones, in such a situation, surpasses in 

 diligence and ingenuity the efforts of any other birds, 

 persevering as they are, that I am acquainted with. 



We might naturally suppose that by the end of winter, 

 all those little birds which are solely supported by in- 

 sect food would find some difficulty in providing for 

 their wants, having consumed by their numbers and 

 exertions nearly all that store of provision which had 

 been provided in the summer and deposited in safety ; 

 but I have found the stomachs of the tree-creeper, and 

 this small tit-mouse, even in February, quite filled with 

 parts of coleopterous creatures, which by their activity 

 and perseverance they had been enabled to procure be- 

 neath the mosses on the branches, and from the chinks 

 in the bark of trees, where they had retired in autumn. 

 Such plenty being procurable after the supply of so 

 many months, renders it apparent that there is no actual 

 deficiency of food at any one period of the year. The 

 small slugs, and some few insects, may perhaps be con- 

 sumed by the severity of winter, but the larger portion 

 of them are so constituted, as to derive no injury from 

 the inclemency of that season, but afford during many 

 months provender to other creatures, multitudes yet 

 remaining to continue their races and animate the air, 

 when the warm days 'of spring shall waken them to 

 active life. 



The construction and selected situations of the nests 

 of birds are as remarkable, as the variety of materials 

 employed in them ; the same forms, places, and articles, 

 being rarely, perhaps never, found united by the differ- 

 ent species, which we should suppose similar neces- 

 sities would direct to a uniform provision. Birds that 

 build early in the spring seem to require warmth and 

 shelter for their young, and the blackbird and the thrush 

 line their nests with a plaster of loam, perfectly ex- 

 teluding, by these cottage-like walls, the keen icy gales 

 of our opening year ; yet should accident bereave the 

 parents of their first hopes, they will construct another, 

 even when summer is far advanced, upon the model 

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