THE TIT. l8l 



been injured, as above described, the continuity 

 of even the stiffened vessels is broken, and the 

 new production even, if the tree lives, is wasted 

 in unsightly gnarls and knobs, which afford 

 further shelter and protection to insects, and 

 form lodgments for water, which stagnates and 

 rots the wood. Bending down and grafting 

 is generally only loss of time and labour, and 

 the diseased part remains to inoculate other trees." 

 I have quoted this to show the valuable services 

 the Tits render by clearing the buds, as the 

 Rooks and Starlings do the fields, of harmful 

 insects. 



The Tits in their search for food on the trees 

 exhibit a restless activity. Never for a moment 

 at ease, they fling themselves into every conceivable 

 position, now hanging sideways to a branch, 

 anon under it back downwards, round and round, 

 then off to another branch, where the same 

 gymnastics are repeated. It appears all the 

 same to them whether their heads or heels are 

 uppermost, as they flit from branch to branch, 



