AMONGST THE HEATHER AND GORSE. 2J 



interest from the crowded harbour below and the 

 sturdy fisherfolk ceaselessly engaged in garnering 

 the perennial harvest of the sea. 



Along many of the sheltered coombe sides, 

 where patches of gorse are mingled amongst the 

 underwood, we shall be pretty sure to meet with 

 another very interesting species, the Long-tailed 

 Titmouse. In Devonshire especially this pretty 

 little bird is extremely partial to the tall gorse 

 bushes as nesting places ; and we know certain 

 spots in which several nests may be found every 

 spring. The birds do not wander far from these 

 covers all the year round, but the young broods 

 disappear in some unaccountable way, the nests 

 never increasing in number. It is an active, 

 sprightly bird, by no means shy, and may be 

 watched actually building its beautiful nest at a 

 distance of a few paces, provided some small 

 caution be exercised. We have so stood amongst 

 the gorse by the half-hour together, and remarked 

 the engaging ways of the Long-tailed Titmouse 

 when so building. Both birds work at the task. 

 One nest we kept under special observation last 

 spring was about one-third completed when we 

 found it ; and it was most interesting to see the 



