THE LONG-TAILED TLTMOUSE. 195 



leaves the nest with the two elder, the orifice is again plastered 

 up, and both male and female attend to the wants of the young 

 which are left.' 



Passing from the birds which build with mud, we now come 

 to those which use vegetable substances in their habitations. 

 As examples of such architecture, we shall select the nests of 

 those birds which are able to construct domed habitations, as 

 well as the remarkable structures which are built by the Bower 

 birds of Australia. 



The Long-tailed Titmouse {Partis caudatus) constructs a 

 nest which is quite as wonderful in its way as the pensile home 

 of the harvest mouse. 



This pretty little bird is very plentiful in England, and owing 

 to its habit of associating in little flocks of ten or twelve in 

 number, and the exceeding restlessness of its character, is very 

 familiar to all observers of nature. These flocks generally con- 

 sist of the parents and their offspring, for the little creature is 

 exceedingly prolific, laying a vast quantity of tiny eggs in its 

 warm nest, and rearing most of the young to maturity. This is 

 a bird which ought to be cherished by all possessors of fields 

 or gardens, for there is scarcely a more determined enemy to 

 the many noxious insects which destroy the fruits, vegetables, 

 and flowers. Fortunately for ourselves, the Long-tailed Tit- 

 mouse is very fond of the various saw-flies, that work such mis- 

 chief among our fruit trees, and often lay waste whole acres of 

 gooseberries, and it is no exaggeration to say that to a possessor 

 of an orchard, or a fruit garden of any kind, every Long-tailed 

 Titmouse is well worth its little weight in gold. 



Although almost every one who lives in the country or who 

 possesses a tolerably large garden in a town is perfectly familiar 

 with this bird, comparatively few are in a position to narrate 

 from personal observation the benefits which it confers upon us. 

 The reason is simple ; they do not rise early enough. A Long- 

 tailed Titmouse in early morning, and the identical bird at noon, 

 scarcely seem to be the same creature, so different are its ways. 



