330 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



tailed Titmouse in early moming, and the identical bird at noon, 

 scarcely seem to be the same creature, so different are its ways. 

 It is a specially early bird, earlier than the sparrow, which is 

 apt to be rather a sluggard as regards leaving its nest, though it 

 sets up its garrulous chirp soon after daybreak. At that hour 

 of the moming the Long-tailed Titmouse seems to cast off fear 

 and diffidence, and allows itseK to be watched without displaying 

 much alarm. Indeed, with the aid of a good opera-glass, it may 

 be observed almost as well as if it were in a cage. 



As the sun ascends above the horizon, and men and boys begin 

 to go about to their daily work, the Titmouse loses its easy con- 

 fidence, and will not suffer itself to be approached so calmly as 

 in the early moming. Generally, somewhere about five or six A.M. 

 it leaves the garden and flies afield, and must then be sought far 

 from human habitation. If, however, the garden should happen 

 to be surrounded by walls, and the ovraer should happen to 

 understand humanity as well as self-interest, the little bird will 

 know that it will not be disturbed, and will remain in its sanc- 

 tuary throughout the greater part of the day. 



The quick, lively movements of the little creature are quite 

 indescribable, so incessant and so varied are its changes of atti- 

 tude. As it runs about the branches, it seems almost independent 

 of gravity, and is equally at its ease whether its head, back, or 

 breast be upward. It ever and anon utters an odd chirping 

 note, which seems to issue from the bird as if it proceeded 

 from some internal machinery, and were independent of the 

 will of the creature which utters it. The observer should be 

 careful to notice its quick, frequent pecks, and may be sure that 

 every such movement denotes the slaughter of some insect, 

 whether in the stage of egg, larva, pupa, or imago. The little 

 beak is by no means so feeble as it seems, and is able to pick up 

 an insect so small as would escape the observation of human 

 eyes, or to pounce upon and destroy one which many a human 

 being would not care to handle. 



All the little flock, which are seen flitting about the trees, 

 darting from branch to branch and tree to tree as if they were 

 little aiTOws projected from bows, have at one time been inmates 

 of the same nest, the beautiful domed stmcture which is shown 

 in the illustration. How they are accommodated in so small a 

 space seems quite a mystery, for not only is the hollow of the 



