264 THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



specimens of such nests, arranged just as they were found. 

 In Spain, the Great Tit is called by the boys Santa Cruz 

 (Holy Cross), on account of the black throat and the 

 breast stripe, which together form roughly a sort of cross. 



Perhaps the most fairy-like member of this dainty 

 family is the Long-tailed Tit. With his pink and white 

 and black plumage, and his funny little round head, with 

 its tiny beak just showing out of the downy white feathers, 

 he is altogether a charming little bird. And the nest — 

 a masterpiece of delicate work in moss and wool and 

 lichen, with the softest of feather linings — is worthy of its 

 builder. 



It is not poked away in the hole of a tree, like that of 

 the Blue-cap, but most often is properly built in the 

 middle of a bush in some wood or plantation. The 

 number of eggs is usually from six to eleven, and as the 

 babies have very long tails in proportion to their bodies, 

 it is a puzzle how the whole family manages to find room 

 in the cosy little home. 



When at last the wee grey, white, and brown nestlings 

 are old enough to be allowed outside the nest, they perch 

 all together on some handy branch, with faces all turned 

 towards the morning sun. At nightfall they "close 

 ranks" and sit very close together to keep themselves 

 warm. If the night is cold there is a good deal of 

 shuffling and jostling for the snug inside places. 



Even "grown-up" Titmice are chilly folk in winter, 

 and crowd together, sometimes huddled two or three 

 deep, when the long hours of darkness begin. 



Little need be said here about the Cole or Coal Tit 

 which is commoner among the pine-woods of Scotland 

 than in England, or the Marsh Tit which is not in any 

 especial degree a marsh-loving bird. That name might. 



