KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



GREAT TIT'S NEST BUILT UNDER AN INVERTED 

 FLOWER-POT. 



round and round by the wind. 

 Although the Oxeye cannot accomplish 

 this, I have seen the bird, over 

 and over again, stand on the branch 



to which the thread was fastened and 

 haul it in reef by reef until the prize 

 was secured. 



In mild weather the male Oxeye will 

 commence to utter his love notes as 

 early as January. They are loud and 

 harsh, and sound very much like the 

 noise made by a saw-sharpener. 



Almost any kind of hole, provided 

 it be large enough, will suit this species 

 for nesting purposes. In woods it fre- 

 quently utilises the interior of a decaying 

 stump, and in gardens an inverted 

 plant pot will frequently be adopted. 

 On several occasions I have found the 

 old nest of a song thrush or blackbird 

 lined with rabbit's down made to do 

 service. 



The eggs, numbering from six to 

 ten, as a rule are white, spotted and 

 speckled with red. The hen sits closely 

 and hisses like a snake upon being 

 molested. 



