MARSH TITMOUSE. 315 



uncommon in the coppices and among the pollards in 

 England. Its general colours are not unlike those of 

 the other, only it wants the white spot on the nape, 

 and the two white bars on the wings ; it is also a little 

 larger, the wings have about an inch more of stretch, 

 and the tail is a little longer. It is never met with 

 except in moist situations, and it confines itself to 

 brushwood and the lower parts of thick trees in 

 hedges, or by the sides of water. It forms its nest in 

 a hole of a tree, and when a natural one to its fancy is 

 not to be found, it excavates, always conveying the 

 chips to some distance. Thus nidification is often a 

 very laborious matter with it ; but in the situation of 

 which it makes choice, it finds abundance of insect 

 food for the greater part of the year ; and when that 

 fails it has recourse to seeds, and has no objection to 

 feed upon animal substances in a state of decay. The 

 evolutions of this titmouse are not so curious as those 

 of the others, because the stems of the trees upon 

 which it takes its excursions are generally hidden by 

 foliage in summer, and partially concealed by sprays in 

 winter; still the rapidity with which the little birds 

 start about through thick leaves, reeds, and other ob- 

 stacles, is abundantly attractive. 



There are two other titmice in the island, the one 

 found only in the south and the other only in the 

 north, and it is rarely to be seen there. The nest of the 

 last is so carefully concealed that it is rarely to be 

 met with. The species alluded to is the crested tit- 

 mouse. It is a lighter bird than the marsh one, but 

 more extended in the wings, and flies more rapidly. 

 Indeed it is so very quick, that unless one has been 



