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BIRD ROOSTS AND ROUTES. 



BY 



BRUCE F. CUMMINGS, 



The following paper does not pretend to be an exhaustive 

 one, but is the result of my own observations during 

 the past winter in the district of Barnstaple, North 

 Devon. 



All birds show considerable care in the choice of a 

 secure roosting site, and in order to spare labour in look- 

 ing for a fresh one every night, they frequently return 

 to the same place continuously. 



A great many of the small species roost in company, 

 " cuddling," or keeping close together in a bunch for 

 warmth. I have found four Wrens roosting in this way 

 in a hole in a tree, and have disturbed several sleeping 

 in their " cock " nests, but as far as my notes go, these 

 are generally vacant. On one occasion last summer I 

 noticed several Long-tailed Tits (probably a brood) 

 on the top of their nest, which had become quite flattened 

 and was covered with droppings. I expect, therefore, 

 that they returned to the nest every night, and when 

 they got too large, roosted on the top of it. Wrens 

 up to the number of thirty at a time. Long-tailed Tits, 

 and Golden-crested Wrens are recorded as roosting 

 together in this " bunching " fashion by Mr. G. A. 

 B. Dewar (in the Birds of Our Wood). One night 

 I saw two Blue Tits embracing each other in this way 

 in an apple tree. They looked like one large bird, so 

 close to each other were they. This is not, however, 

 the usual habit of this Tit, for it generally roosts in 

 holes. 



The Sparrow, as is well known, will occupy an old 



