THE COLE TIT 



mi 



of the first egg, the hen will be sitting. 

 The cock is now all hurry and bustle, 

 turning somersaults round the twigs of 

 a neighbouring oak, peering into all the 

 crannies for hidden treasure, taking his 

 burden to his sitting mate, and receiving 

 many kind acknow- 

 ledgments. 



The young are soon 

 hatched, and the cock 

 has to redouble his 

 efforts, for he has 

 not only to feed his 

 mate but six or seven 

 hungry youngsters. 

 This lasts only a day 

 or two, however, when 

 he is joined by his 

 mate. As the young 

 grow the parents in- 

 crease their exertions, 

 and there are always 

 open beaks asking 

 for more ! 



When they happen 

 to be near the nest 

 together the hen will 

 shuffle her wings and 

 ask her mate in the 

 plainest way for the 

 delicacies he has 

 brought. 



Earlier in the year he would have taken 

 notice of these appeals — or rather, would 

 have been so assiduous in his attentions 

 that the appeals need not have been made 

 — but now he takes no notice, his extra 

 duties absorbing his time and attention. 



They bring from four to six caterpillars 

 about every two minutes to the nest. 



ENTRANCE TO THE NEST 



Let us say they work ten hours in the 

 day and bring ft\e cat(.-r])illars each time, 

 we get some idea of the huge quantity the 

 young consume. Multiply this by about 

 thirty days and by the number of broods 

 reared by all the insect -eating birds, 

 and one may then 

 imagine the enormous 

 good done by them. 

 How grateful our 

 farmers and gardeners 

 ought to be ! 



After a time the 

 young become 

 fledged, and leave 

 the nest to follow 

 their parents into the 

 world of wood and 

 sunshine, quivering 

 their wings when food 

 is bnnight, and twit- 

 t e r i n g a grateful 

 thanks in return. 

 Later they become 

 grown birds, indepen- 

 dent of their father 

 and mother, perform- 

 ing acrobatics in the 

 topmost twigs on their 

 own account, and 

 will, no doubt, come 

 cocoanuts and almonds in due 



to our 

 season. 



There is some confusion between the 

 Cole Tit and his near cousin the Marsh 

 Tit, and it would be well to mention here 

 that the Cole Tit has white-barred wings 

 and a white nape, whereas the ^Llrsh Tit 

 has neither of these marks. 



Alfred Br.mlsford. 



