384 PARIDA. 
near the ground, on the margin of the dikes, in the fen ; 
sometimes fixed among the reeds that are broken down, 
but never suspended between the stems.” 
A few years since I obtained two nests from the parish of 
Horsey. These were both placed near the ground, being 
sustamed only an inch or two above the surface by the 
strength of the stems of the coarse grass upon which they 
were fixed. Each nest was composed entirely of dried 
bents, the finer ones forming the lining, and others increas- 
ing in substance made up the exterior. The eggs are from 
four to six in number, rather smaller than those of the 
Great Tit, and less pointed, eight lmes and a half long by 
six lines and a half in breadth, white, and sparingly marked 
with pale red lines or scratches. 
Their food during winter, Mr. Hoy says, ‘“‘is principally 
the seed of the reed; and so intent are they in searching 
for it, that he has taken them with a bird-limed twig 
attached to the end of a fishing-rod. When alarmed by 
any sudden noise, or the passing of a Hawk, they utter 
their shrill musical notes, and conceal themselves among the 
thick bottoms of the reeds; but soon resume their station, 
climbing the upright stems with the greatest facility. I 
have been enabled to watch their motions when in search 
of insects, having, when there has been a little wind 
stirring, been often within a few feet of them, quite un- 
noticed, among the thick reeds.” In the same volume of 
the Magazine of Natural History, Mr. Dykes says, “having 
lately had an opportunity of examining three specimens, I 
found the crops completely filled with the Succinea amphibia 
in a perfect state, the shells being unbroken. These shells 
were singularly closely packed together ; the crop of one, 
which was not larger than a hazel nut, containing twenty, 
and some of them of a good size; it contained also four of 
