310 



FIELD, FOREST AND FARM 



their mother manage to find room for themselves in 

 this tiny abode? And how in the world can tails 

 ever grow to such length there? 

 "The nest of the swinging titmouse is still more 



remarkable. In 

 our country this 

 bird is hardly 

 ever found except 

 on the banks of 

 the lower Rhone. 

 It hangs its nest 

 very high, on the 

 tip-end of some 

 swaying branch 

 of a tree at the 

 water-side, so 

 that its brood is 

 gently rocked by 

 the breeze sweep- 

 ing over the 

 river." 

 "Why, I should 

 think," put in Emile, "there would be danger of 

 the young birds' spilling out of such a swinging 

 nest." 



' ' Not at all, ' ' replied his uncle. ' ' The shape of the 

 nest provides against that. It is a s©rt of oval purse 

 about as large as a wine-bottle, with a small opening 

 at one side, near the top. This opening is prolonged 

 like the neck of a bottle and will at the utmost admit 

 one's finger. To pass through so narrow an en- 



Long-tailed Titmouse 



