BRITISH BIRDS. 47 



Himalayas and Japan. Partially migrates from coldest 

 regions in winter. 



Adult : head, nape and mantle, rusty brown, each feather 

 having a huffish white streak in the centre ; rump and 

 upper tail-coverts rust colour ; wing-quills dark brown, 

 edged on outer webs with reddish-buff, and (all but first 

 three) crossed by a band of rusty-white, wing-coverts being 

 also spotted with the same ; tail feathers dark brown, 

 edged with olive and tinged with rusty -brown, shafts being 

 yellow ; throat, breast and belly, silvery pearl-white ; sides 

 with a buff tinge ; above the eye a short whitish streak ; bill 

 brownish-black above, yellowish-white below ; feet pale 

 brown. Length 4*25; wing 2^50; tarsus "55. Young: much 

 paler, general tint rusty buff ; bill shorter and straighten 



Breeds throughout British Isles wherever old trees are 

 found. It seems certain that numbers move southward 

 from N. Britain during winter, as at this season it is very 

 abundant, in company with Titmice, etc., in S.E. of 

 England, while in spring but few pairs remain. Searches 

 constantly upon tree-trunks for small insects and their 

 larvae, ascending from near the ground to the highest part, 

 the stiff pointed tail being pressed into the bark as a 

 support ; flits from one tree to another with a quick, 

 wavering flight. Upon old trees also it collects materials for 

 its nest, which is placed in a crevice in a gnarled oak, behind 

 loose bark on a decayed tree, or in a hole ; composed of 

 small dead twigs, chips of decayed wood and bark-strips, 

 held together with spiders webs and lined with wool and 

 smaller feathers of Titmice and other tree-haunters. Eggs: 

 6 to 8 ; white, boldly spotted around larger end with 

 reddish-brown ; size "64 by "47. Usual note is an almost 

 inaudible zee, zee; but in spring male sometimes sings 

 while ascending a tree, song being shrill and much like 

 that of the Wren. 



