86 THE BIRDS OF SHERWOOD FOREST. 



probably the summer's brood, that I have chiefly met 

 with it. 



Though insects form a considerable portion of its 

 food, yet it is more a ground feeder than any of the 

 others, and in the winter season it busily searches 

 amongst the withered leaves for seeds, especially under 

 the beech trees, the nuts of this tree being a favourite 

 food. It is also very partial to the seeds of the birch, 

 on the long pendulous twigs of which it clings in almost 

 every position, swinging about with each passing breeze. 

 Its more terrestrial habits are also shown by the position 

 in which it places its nest, a hole in a bank or under 

 the roots of a tree being often chosen for that purpose. 

 I have heard its monotonous note as early as the 24th 

 of January. 



In our neighbourhood the Marsh Titmouse (P. palus- 

 tris) is hardly so abundant as the cole. It is not by 

 any means confined to low or marshy situations, for we 

 have few such around us, but I have met with it far 

 from water. The notes uttered by the great tit are like 

 the whetting of a saw, but this is far more correctly 

 imitated by the marsh tit ; indeed, I have often been 

 surprised at the close similarity, and have been tempted 

 to look round for the sawyer. Their cry resembles the 

 words " Chika, chika, chika," repeated four or five times 

 in succession, and ending with a shorter syllable, " chike/' 

 Its habits are much the same as those of the others of 

 the tribe, perpetually in motion, seeking its food in the 

 crevices of the bark of the trees which it frequents; but, 

 as far as I have observed, it does not associate with the 

 other species, but keeps together in small parties. 



The long- tailed Tit (P. caudatus) is the last I have 

 to notice, for, as far as I know, neither P. cristatus nor 



