The Marsh-Tit. 155 



upper surface, as compared with those of the Continent, have received the varietal 

 name of dresseri. Our Marsh-Tit is less frequently seen than most of our species, 

 though not uncommon in suitable localities, both in England and Wales ; but in 

 Scotland and Ireland it is extremely local. 



The adult Marsh-Tit has the forehead, crown and nape glossy-black, to a line 

 below the eye from base of upper mandible ; back greyish-brown, slightly cupreous 

 in a bright light, paler on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; wings and tail smoky- 

 brown, slightly browner along the outer webs of the feathers ; chin and throat 

 black ; cheeks ashy- white ; remainder of under parts ashy, suffused with bufEsh- 

 brown on the sides, flanks, thighs, and vent ; flights and tail below ash-grey ; bill 

 black ; feet leaden- grey ; iris dark-brown. The sexes are very similar ; but the 

 young are duller and somewhat browner. 



Although often found in the neighbourhood of marshes, this Tit is by no 

 means strictly conflned to moist situations ; for I have not unfrequently seen it in 

 my own garden at Beckenham, though more frequently in the autumn than at 

 other seasons, and often in company with Blue-Tits : its song is not of much 

 account — tsiz-tsis-tsiz, chee, and the call-note a rapidly repeated chay, chay, chay, chay ;* 

 in spring it is also said to utter a loud double note somewhat resembling the 

 ordinary wheelbarrow note of the Great Tit ; but this I have never been able to 

 confirm ; though I may have heard the note without recognising its author : but 

 from what I have seen of this species, both wild and in confinement, I should 

 judge it to be less noisy than other Tits. 



In disposition the Marsh-Tit is gentle, confiding and lively : in its actions, 

 flight, method of feeding and the nature of its food, it corresponds closely with 

 its congeners ; but I found it a more inveterate bather, which may perhaps account 

 for its preferring the vicinity of water. According to Lord Lilford this bird is 

 less often to be found amongst high trees than our other species. 



Although a resident bird, the numbers of our British bred Marsh-Tits are 

 largely increased by autumn immigration, the arrivals again taking their departure 

 early in the succeeding spring. 



Stevenson, in his "Birds of Norfolk" gives the following interesting account: 

 " Though commonly met with by rivers and streams and in other low and damp 

 situations, it is also found in our fir plantations and in gardens and orchards far 

 from any water, where, in autumn, they feed on the seeds of various berries, being 

 particularly partial to those of the snowberry shrub fSymphoria raccmosaj . Before I 

 discovered the actual depredators I had often observed that the berries on these shrubs 

 in my garden disappeared very rapidl}^ and, moreover, that the berries themselves 



* In Yarrell, it is rendered peh, peh ; but it is chay or tsay in mj- opinion. 



