THE TITMOUSE. 215 



caudatus) is not so sweet, but certainly more often 

 heard, than that of the bearded species, though the 

 bird rcmain.s all tlie year in thick woods, and has 

 little familiarity Avith man, and those only who are 

 in the habit of penetrating among green boughs 

 can hear its song or find its nest. This is a most 

 beautiful structure, and difters from that of any 

 other British bird. It is an oval or bottle-shaped 

 dome, firmly made of moss and wool, prettily 

 sprinkled over with lichens, and being so abun- 

 dantly lined with feathers, that the young long- 

 taib repose on a downy bed. It is usually placed 

 in a bush, and here twelve or fourteen nestlings 

 are hatched and fed, and in tliis little home learn 

 to love each other so well, that notwithstanding a 

 few squabbles in their early days, the whole family 

 whisk about the woods together all the rest of 

 the year. When night comes, they roost all 

 together on the bough of some thick evergreen, 

 and after having dis])uted awile for the warmer 

 places, suddenly cease their clamour, and sleep in 

 ^)eace till the dawn of morning. The young 



of black between the shoulders ; wings and tail black, edged with 

 white ; under parts greyish-white, tinged on the sides with pink ; 

 beak and feet black. 



