56 PARING. 



SPECIES 55 THE LONG-TAILED TIT, 



Parus caudatus. Linn. 

 Mesange a long queue. Temm. 



THIS beautiful species,, as remarkable for elegance of form as 

 from its interesting habits, has been at all times taken under 

 the especial care of the ornithologist. Rather unusual in its 

 occurrence, it is found in much smaller numbers than any of 

 the species already described, perhaps owing to its wandering 

 and migratory habits, seldom remaining for any length of time . 

 in the same locality. The admirable grace with which a troop 

 of these birds traverse the greenwood, and the varied at- 

 titudes they display when in search of food, are eminently in- 

 teresting to the observer. 



Possessing a peculiarity in flight, from the great length of 

 tail to which this species owes its name, its appearance on the 

 wing has been likened by many writers to the rapid glancing 

 of a feather -tipped arrow through the uncertain light of the 

 leaf- clad grove. 



The nest is a very beautiful structure, and resembles that 

 of the goldcrest in its penduline form, as also that of the 

 goldfinch, in the exquisite manner with which the outside is 

 covered by the many varied particles of lichen. The inside is 

 generally lined with feathers, and this fact has obtained for 

 it the common name of the u feather poke." 



The long-tailed tit is entirely destitute of any of that bold- 

 ness so characteristic of the great and blue tits, and the utmost 

 severity of winter fails in forcing it to leave its lonely haunts in 

 the plantation or shrubbery to seek refuge in the vicinity of 

 man ; and in captivity it has such a quiet melancholy and 

 loving deportment towards its fellow -prisoner, as almost to 

 justify the appellation of love-bird. A pair once in our pos- 

 session evidenced this, for, on the approach of night, the 

 female uniformly crept close to the male, inserting her head 

 beneath his wing, and, nestling in security and shelter, thus 

 passed away the darksome hours of night. 



The eggs of the long-tailed tit are next in size to that 

 of the minute goldcrest, and resembles the eggs of all titmice, 

 in being of a whitish colour, speckled with red. 



Indigenous. 



