THE LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE 



any one locality. There are few prettier sights than a 

 company of Long-tailed Tits, especially in winter, when 

 the bare trees admit of their close observation. They are 

 most sociable little birds, keeping close together, trooping 

 in dipping flight one after the other from tree to tree or 

 along the hedgeside, twittering merrily to each other. 

 Their actions are much the same as those of the other 

 Titmice, but their long tails give an added grace to their 

 acrobatic movements. They feed chiefly upon insects, 

 especially in summer, but at other times small seeds are 

 sought. The broods and their parents usually keep 

 company through the winter, but in early spring these 

 break up into pairs for nesting duties, and the old birds 

 appear to return to some old-accustomed spot to rear 

 another family. The notes of this species are not so 

 varied as those of other Titmice, the usual call being a 

 harsh, churring string of cries, besides which the bird 

 utters the usual si-si-si prevalent with all. The Long- 

 tailed Titmouse is famous for the beautiful nest it builds, a 

 large, globular structure which for compact workmanship 

 is unexcelled. Contrary to all the other British species of 

 Tit, the present bird places its home in a low tree or bush, 

 amongst thickets, in evergreens, or in a cluster of honey- 

 suckle. It is usually made chiefly of moss and lichens, 

 cemented together with cocoons and spiders' webs, and 

 lined with an abundance of feathers and hair. Usually 

 one or two twigs are interwoven, and the entrance-hole is 

 on one side near the top. The outer materials often 

 harmonise most closely with surrounding objects. The 

 six to ten eggs are white, dusted with pale red and grey. 



The adult Long-tailed Titmouse has the head white, 

 the crown encircled with a black band ; the back is black, 

 shading into rose-pink on the rump and scapulars ; the 

 wings are black, the innermost secondaries with broad 

 white margins ; the long tail is black, the three outermost 

 feathers on each side white on the outer web and on part 



