I 82 WILD NATURE IN STRATHEARN. 



and tree to tree, their "cheep, chee, chee, cee," 

 or cry, " chur-r," being continually uttered. 



The Great Tit and Blue Tit in winter come 

 nearer to houses than do the others, although the 

 Cole Tit is no stranger. None of them are 

 shy in their habits. They nest in the holes 

 of trees, or in wall crevices, and sometimes 

 in old disused pumps. I remember, when a 

 boy, taking to pieces an old pump to get a 

 Blue Tit's nest. The owner of the pump came 

 upon me before I had time to replace the 

 spout, handle, &c., and, not being an ornithologist, 

 considered my action one of pure mischief, and 

 treated me accordingly. The nest of the Blue 

 Tit has been repeatedly found in wooden letter- 

 boxes attached to a fence or tree, but any 

 article that will provide concealment, and has a 

 small opening, may provide a resting-place for 

 this curious little bird. They have been known 

 to build a nest and bring forth their young in 

 an empty ale bottle, the neck of which was 

 only one inch in diameter. 



