on Crested Tits and other Wild Birds.



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Within were three eggs, which was not the full complement, the

normal clutch being at least five or six. The eggs were white with

reddish spots chiefly on the larger end, similar to a Blue Tit’s, but

slightly bigger.


The food of the Crested Tit consists, as in the case of other

members of the family, of insects ; but they also consume a lot of

seeds from the fir-cones, as well as berries, such as rowan, etc. This

species is resident, but its numbers are sometimes augmented by

migrants from the Continent. Its note is very similar to the Cole

Tit, but has a peculiar quaver at the end.


I might add that another nest I found belonging to this

species was of especial interest, for it was placed in a hole formed

by a board being nailed against a hollow in a fir-tree trunk, the tree

itself being alive and not decayed as is usual, the birds having taken

advantage of a small entrance between the board and the living

trunk. The board had been placed there by a Ghillie who took a

great interest in wild birds, and he told me that although he had

found a great many nests of Crested Tits, he had never before seen

one in anything approaching to an artificial site, or in hard wood,

as in the above case. He had seen a pair of these charming little

birds in his garden, and thinking they had been unable to discover a


suitable nesting site, had devised one for them, for which they


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appeared grateful, much to the delight of the landlord, who took

the greatest interest in his feathered tenants, for they were by no

means the only ones, as in addition to other birds, a pair of Tree-

creepers had utilized another tree treated in the same manner.


I was also fortunate enough to find a Crossbill’s nest (Loxia

curvirostra ) which was built near the top of a tall Scotch fir on the

outskirts of a wood, being placed towards the end of a horizontal

branch.


The nest closely resembled that of a hedge-accentor’s, but

somewhat larger. There were young birds within, nearly fully

fledged ; one of whose number was unfortunate enough to be blown

out during a gale, which I picked up dead. Its mouth was full of

seeds of larch cones. Up to the age of three weeks, the bills of the

nestlings are quite straight.


Coming to an entirely different family and locality, I may



