64 WILD L1FI-; IN CHINA. 



birds, that love which to all such lovers is repaid "a thousand- 

 fold into their bosom."' 



Something has been said above respecting the food of 

 the tits. But there has long been a wordy warfare between 

 gardeners and mere bird lovers as to whether the tits are 

 not a greater evil than good in gardens and orchards. It is 

 allowed by the gardeners that the tits eat a great many insects, 

 caterpillars and the like, but, in getting at them they are 

 said to kill buds ! I am afraid that this charge cannot alto- 

 gether be disproved but, in mitigation of any punishment 

 that might be deemed desirable, it might be argued that 

 every bud so killed would have died through the effect of 

 the insect or grub, and therefore the tit really ought to 

 get off scot free. No one who has ever watched the tits 

 and the extremely systematic way they go about their search 

 can doubt the advantage of their service to the grower of 

 trees. Here, in Shanghai, much of the beauty of our tree life, 

 now becoming so plentiful, is due to the very effective search- 

 ing carried out not only by tits but by bulbuls, flinches, 

 orioles, and sparrows. I have seen all these doing such dut>- 

 as entitles them to every respect and protection. 



Tits are remarkable nest builders. Most of them prefer 

 holes in which they can accumulate a heterogeneous mass 

 of moss, hay, feathers, and the like. Most of them lay eggs 

 more or less speckled with red, though some are nearly pure 

 white. In England people who love tits put up nest boxes, 

 to find them, of course, often taken possession of by fly- 

 catchers, redstarts, or sparrows. There are numerous stories 

 told of the extraordinary places which Mrs. Tit will select 

 for her home, coming back to it year by year if possible. A 

 pump in regular use was one of these: another was a letter- 

 box into which letters were dropped every day. The mother 

 is a close sitter, and one of the common country names for 

 the tit is " Billy Biter" from the sharp pecks which fingers 

 intruding within the sacred precincts receive. But the most 

 beautiful nest which I personally know is that of the long- 

 tailed tit above mentioned. She prefers the open. No holes 

 with their stuffy atmosphere for her. All the nests of hers 

 which I have seen have been in thick bushes — in England 

 usually thorn or holly — probably from the protection they 

 give. In shape the nest is much like that of the wren, but in 

 placeof the green moss which the wren uses the long-tailed tit 

 prefers the grey-green lichen from trees. That is for the outside 

 only. Internally the little home is a cosy collection of feathers. 

 An enthusiast once took the trouble to count, and found that 

 the protection of the little tits from cold had entailed on their 

 parents the collection and carriage of no fewer them 2,379 

 feathers! No wonder the nest takes n fortnight or more to 



