BRITISH SONG-BIRDS. 137 



when it alights, has a curious vibratory motion 

 with its tail. 



Of the Nest and Eggs, 



These birds in their manners are very much 

 like titmice, and they build in similar situations ; 

 at least those nests we have found were in holes 

 of old garden and orchard-walls covered with 

 ivy, or in the holes of trees near such places. 



The outside of the nest is formed of moss ; the 

 inside is lined with down, feathers, and hair; and 

 the eggs, from four to five in number, are not un- 

 like those of the hedge-sparrow, but rather smaller, 

 longer in proportion, and a little paler in colour. 

 They are of a pale tint composed of verditer-blue, 

 passing into verdigris-green. 



Song. 



Its natural warble is neither vary varied, loud, 

 nor extensive; but its notes are sweet, and the mo- 

 dulations are finely blended and tender. When 

 young, and placed by good song-birds, it soon ac- 

 quires another strain, and thus becomes an excel- 

 lent bird for the cage. 



