98 RUDDY-BREASTED BIRDS. 



Nest. Of dead leaves of sedges and reeds, lined 

 with reed-heads, and placed (not suspended) near the 

 ground among rushes or coarse grass. 



This beautiful bird, now become very rare, occurs 

 only in the reed -beds of the Norfolk Broads. The 

 situation, the bright colouring of the bird, the con- 

 spicuous moustaches or ' beard ' a wisp of black 

 feathers at each side of the bill, set in high relief 

 by the white of the throat and the inordinately 

 long tail, itself as long as the body of the bird, 

 preclude the possibility of confusion. 



LONG-TAILED TIT 5 inches, of which the tail consti- 

 tutes more than half. Head and throat white, with 

 black stripe over the eye ; hind-part of neck and back 

 black, with rosy patch on each shoulder ; lower back 

 also rosy ; wings and tail black, the outer feathers of 

 the latter partly white ; under parts rosy. Nests and 

 feeds in bushes and trees. 



LONG-TAILED TIT Plate 44. 5i inches, of 

 which the tail alone measures more than 3 inches. 

 Head and throat dull white ; stripe over the eyes 

 black ; hind-neck and upper back black, with a 

 rosy patch on each shoulder ; lower back also rosy ; 

 wings and tail black, the outer feathers of the latter 

 partly white ; under parts rosy. Kesident. 



Eggs. 7-10, or more, white, speckled with reddish- 

 brown about the larger end ; '53 * "42 inch (plate 125). 



Nest. Oval, with a hole at the side, formed of 

 moss, wool, and spiders' webs, covered with silvery 

 lichens outside, and lined profusely with feathers. 

 It is placed usually in a thick hedge, but also in 



