78 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



presence of a tenanted nest. Our other feathered 

 woodcutters are the Titmice. In every case these 

 birds cut into decayed wood when they cannot 

 find a hole ready made suited for their purpose. 

 I have known the Coal Titmouse cut its way 

 into a rotten stump in a hedgerow for a distance 

 of eighteen inches, and make its warm nest at the 

 bottom, of moss, wool, dry grass, feathers, and 

 hair. The Blue Titmouse, though it often chooses 

 a site in an old wall or a pump, frequently cuts its 

 way into wood ; and the Marsh Titmouse re- 

 peatedly does so. In boring, these little birds are 

 very careful not to betray the nest by the frag- 

 ments of wood cut out, and carry them away to a 

 safe distance bit by bit. All the Titmice make 

 warm and bulky nests in the holes they excavate 

 or select. The Redstart and the Pied Flycatcher 

 also breed in holes in timber, but never make 

 them for themselves, always selecting one ready 

 to hand. 



5. Felt-Makers. We now arrive at a class of 

 birds whose architecture is of a far more elaborate 

 kind than any hitherto treated with. Some of the 

 nests made by the felt-makers are exceptionally 

 elaborate and beautiful, the materials of the nest 

 being felted or matted together with wonderful 

 skill, and the structures themselves being remark- 

 ably handsome in design. Our best-known felt- 

 maker is the Chaffinch. As soon as spring-time 

 bursts the hawthorn buds, the Chaffinches may be 

 found at work on their beautiful abode. A site 



