LONG-TAILED ‘TIT. 68 
LONG-TAILED TIT. 
ACREDULA RosEA, Blyth. 
Pl. X., fig. 27. 
Geogr. distr.—Apparently restricted to Great Britain; a constant 
resident ; common in certain districts. 
Food.—Insects and larve. 
Nest.—Usually a large and somewhat pear-shaped structure, the 
small end being upwards and pierced in front with a small entrance 
hole; but sometimes more barrel-shaped*; formed of mosses and 
fragments of grey and white lichens firmly compacted with cobweb 
and sometimes wool, feathers, and a few beech leaves; warmly lined 
with feathers. 
Position of nest.—In stunted bushes, hawthorn hedges, box and 
other trees in groves, plantations, shrubberies, or gardens near woods. 
Number of eggs.—8-10. 
Time of nidification.—IV-V ; May (beginning of month). 
This is one of our most attractive birds, and its nest 
is surpassed in beauty only by that of the Chaffinch; it 
is a very conspicuous object in a hawthorn hedge, and 
therefore in such a position rarely escapes the eye of that 
most destructive animal the Clodhopper, who ruthlessly 
tears it to pieces, and, placing the eggs on the ground, 
tries to see how many he can smash at one jump, or 
with one shot of a stone at a yard’s distance. 
The flight of this Tit is rapid, and its cry is shrill; it 
leaves its eggs at once as one approaches the nest, but 
appears to be much attached to its young, which remain 
with the parent birds until the return of the nesting-season. 
From observations recorded by Mr. Weir, the construc- 
tion of the nest occupies both cock and hen (working 
alternately) for twelve days, and when one considers the 
labour expended in decorating its exterior, it is not at all 
surprising that so much time should be occupied in per- 
fecting it; it varies much in size. 
Although it is stated that as many as sixteen eggs are 
sometimes deposited in a nest, that number is hardly 
likely to be laid by one hen; in my experience ten is the 
usual number. 
* These two forms of nest have probably earned for this bird the 
names of Bottle Tit and Barrel Tit. 
