168 BRITISH LAND BIRDS. 



his hard and sharp beak on the skull of his victim. 

 Afterwards he picks out and eats the brains. 



The LONG-TAILED TIT is not uncommon in woods 

 and shrubberies, in most parts of the kingdom. 

 The nest of this bird has already been described ; 

 It has always attracted attention as a model of 

 beautiful architecture, and Mr. Yarrell says, " We 

 have many accurate descriptions of it handed down 

 from times when the habits and even the forms 

 of birds were but imperfectly known." The same 

 author pronounces this nest to be "altogether 

 one of the most extraordinary of animal struc- 

 tures." 



The BLUE TIT is one of the most courageous of 

 his kind ; and is well known among the bird-nest- 

 ing boys of several counties, by the name of 

 " Billy biter," from the recollection of the impres- 

 sion made by his hard and sharp beak upon their 

 lingers . The female is not easily driven from her 

 nest, but defends it with great perseverance and 

 valour, puffing out her feathers, hissing like an 

 angry kitten, and pecking. 



These birds often choose the oddest and most 

 conspicuous places for their nests. Not long 

 since, a pair built in an old rat's nest ; a drinking- 

 cup having been left in the hole of a wall, a little 

 tit commenced building her nest in it the next 

 day, and in a week she had laid eleven eggs. 



