THE LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 197 



five or six a.m. it leaves the garden and flies afield, and must 

 then be sought far from human habitation. If, however, the 

 garden should happen to be surrounded by walls, and the owner 

 should happen to understand humanity as well as self-interest, 

 the little bird will know that it will not be disturbed, and will 

 remain in its sanctuary throughout the greater part of the day. 



The quick, lively movements of the little creature are quite 

 indescribable, so incessant and so varied are its changes of atti- 

 tude. As it runs about the branches, it seems almost indepen- 

 dent of gravity, and is equally at its ease whether its head, back, 

 or breast be upward. It ever and anon utters an odd chirping 

 note, which seems to issue from the bird as if it proceeded from 

 some internal machinery, and were independent of the will of 

 the creature which utters it. The observer should be careful to 

 notice its quick, frequent pecks, and may be sure that every 

 such movement denotes the slaughter of some insect, whether 

 in the stage of egg, larva, pupa, or imago. The little beak is 

 by no means so feeble as it seems, and is able to pick up an 

 insect so small as would escape the observation of human eyes, 

 or to pounce upon and destroy one which many a human being 

 would not care to handle. 



All the little flock, which are seen flitting about the trees, 

 darting from branch to branch and tree to tree as if they were 

 httle arrows projected from bows, have at one time been inmates 

 of the same nest, the beautiful domed structure which is shown 

 in the illustration. How they are accommodated in so small a 

 space seems quite a mystery, for not only is the hollow of the 

 nest of no great size, but the interior is so filled with feathers 

 and down that the space is still further limited. 



The nest of the Long-tailed Titmouse is rather variable in 

 shape, but its usual form is shown in the illustration. Generally, 

 it is rather oval, and has an aperture at one side and near the 

 top, through which the birds can pass. I believe that all domed 

 nests, whether of bird or beast, are constructed by at least two 

 architects, one of which remains within, while the other works 

 from without. This is certainly the case with many creatures, 

 and is probably so with all. The materials of which the nest is 



