926 



THE NATURE BOOK 



of firs whose deep evergreen needles 

 mingled with the tender shoots of larch, 

 blushing with " rosy plumelets." A steep 

 bank, ablaze with short-stemmed prim- 

 roses, descended to the stream, throwing 

 forward a spur as though to buttress it. 

 I'he peninsula thus formed was a ^'erit- 

 able tangle of woodland plants, and 

 bramble and honeysuckle combined to 

 guard the sanctuary for the small furred 

 and feathered world that peopled it. 

 Towering abo\-e the thicket, like forest 

 trees above the jungle, rose a large cluni]:) 

 of gorse, and it was to these bushes that 

 the Long-tailed Tits brought the results of 

 their foraging. 



The nest had reached the cup-shaped 

 stage, and the birds were engaged in 

 heightening the walls preparatory to 

 doming it over. The whole structure 

 was beautifully wo\-en, moss entwined 

 with line dry grasses, bound securely with 

 spider's web, and adorned outside with 

 lichens. As I watched, one of the old 

 birds entered, disappearing from view 

 except for an inch or two of tail ; but 



even without that guide I could follow 

 the bird's movements by the heavings 

 of the walls of its house, as the tiny archi- 

 tect turned round and round, pressing its 

 breast against the sides so as to ensure 

 its perfect symmetiy. Then craning its 

 head and neck over the edge, it re- 

 arranged some rebellious piece, added the 

 fragment it had brought, and finally 

 hopped out to sit close by, preening its 

 featheiJ, while its mate took its turn, 

 churring from time to time in sheer joy 

 of the sunshine and the careless honey- 

 moon days before eight or nine hungry 

 mouths appear to make the business of 

 life a grim reality. 



Then off they flew together on a fresh 

 journey, perpetually caUing to and an- 

 swering each other, returning with their 

 spoils after some three or four minutes' 

 absence, working incessantly at their 

 labour of love, 3'et adding such minute 

 fragments that at the end of some three 

 hours' watching I could see no perceptible 

 increase. Yet there was an increase. 

 The walls were heightened, and some few 



THE FAvouKrrt; of the family. 



