6 
minute. From seven to eight o'clock they fed them twenty times. During this hour it rained 
very heavily. From eight to nine o'clock they fed them thirty-six times, and from nine to ten 
o'clock forty-six times. During a part of this last hour they fed them twelve times in five 
minutes. From ten to eleven o'clock they fed them thirty-seven times, from eleven to twelve 
o'clock thirty-nine times, and from twelve to one o'clock twenty-four times; from one to two 
o'clock they fed them twenty-three times, from two to three o'clock thirty-four times, and from 
three to four o’clock eighteen times; from four to five o’clock they fed them twenty-nine times, 
from five to six o’clock twenty-five times, from six to seven o'clock twenty times, and from seven 
to half-past eight o’clock twenty-five times. They now stopped, after having been almost inces- 
santly engaged for seventeen hours in their labours of love, and after having fed their young 482 
times. ‘They appeared to feed them solely with caterpillars; sometimes they brought in a single 
large one, and at other times two or three small ones; it is therefore impossible to say how 
many had been carried in by them during the day.” 
The accompanying paragraph is extracted from Mr. Stevenson’s ‘ Birds of Norfolk. “The 
following facts as to a most singular nesting-place of this species I can vouch for from personal 
observations :—In the spring of 1857, a pair of Blue Tits built their nest in the interior of a 
door-post forming part of the back entrance to a house, a short distance from Norwich. On the 
inner side of the door-post was the usual brass plate, with three square openings for the lock, 
sneck, and bolt to shoot backwards and forwards in. ‘Through the largest of these, the wood- 
work being rotted away, the birds obtained access to their strange nesting-place. The materials 
were carried in bit by bit, regardless of the constant passing to and fro of the servants; and their 
presence was intimated by a loud hiss whenever a finger or stick was intruded into their domicile. 
The most singular thing, however, was the fact that the door, though open during the day, was 
always locked at night, thus shutting im these little tenants, without a chance of escape, until 
morning, the lock itself filling up the only possible exit. The nest appeared to be placed about 
six inches below the entrance to it; but how supported, could not be seen; and in this place, in 
spite of every drawback, these little creatures managed to hatch and bring off their young ones 
in perfect safety.” 
Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., writes to us:—‘ A white variety was observed in January 1848 at 
Northrepps, near Cromer. My father has a yellow one from Saffron Walden. All the others 
which were in the nest were the same colour; and this happened two years in succession. A 
similar specimen was shot at Inverness, and recorded in ‘The Field.’” 
Yarrell says, ‘‘‘The eggs are variable in number, sometimes very numerous. Montagu mentions 
six or seven ; Pennant names from twelve to fourteen; Mr. Heysham has also found fourteen eggs 
in anest ; and Mr. Hewitson has recorded one instance in which the nest contained eighteen eggs. 
From eight to ten eggs, however, is the more common number; they are white, spotted with pale 
red, measuring seven lines and a half in length, and six lines in diameter.” 
Dr. E. Rey, of Halle, writes us word that “the average size of forty-four eggs he has 
measured is 15:4 by 11°9 millimetres, the largest measuring 17 by 20, and the smallest 14:25 
by 11°75 millimetres respectively. In Germany the fresh eggs are found from the 20th of 
April to the 6th of May, and the full complement of eggs is from seven to twelve. In Algarve 
(South Portugal) I found it breeding, but not common.” 
