314 TITMICE. 
over the branches, it hardly looks like a bird, for its quick limbs and strong 
claws carry it over the twigs with such rapidity that it resembles a biue 
mouse rather than one of the feathered tribe. Being almost exclusively an 
insect-eating bird, and a most voracious little creature, it renders invaluable 
service to the agriculturist and the gardener by discovering and destroying 
the insects which crowd upon the trees and plants in the early days of 
spring, and which, if not removed, would effectually injure a very large pro- 
portion of the fruit and produce. in 
The nest of this species may be found in the most extraordinary localities, 
such as hollow trees, holes in old walls, the interior of disused spouts, sides 
of gravel-pits, the hat of a scarecrow, the inside of a porcelain jar, or the 
cylinder of a pump. One bird had actually chosen a bee-hive as its 
residence, and had succeeded in building its nest and rearing its young while 
surrounded by the bees going to and returning from their work. Another 
Titmouse contrived to get into a weathercock on the summit of a spire, 
and there made its nest in security. The eggs are small and rather 
numerous, heing generally about eight or ten, but sometimes exceeding the 
latter number. 
THE LONG-TAILED TIT- 
MOUSE is familiarly known 
throughout England, and is 
designated under different 
titles, according to the locality 
in which it resides, some of its 
popular names being derived 
from its shape, and others 
from its crest. In some parts 
of the country it is called 
“Long Tom,” while _ others 
it goes by the name of “ Zottle- 
crested Tit,” or “ Poke-Pud- 
ding,” the latter word being a 
provincial rendering of the 
useful culinary apparatus 
termed a pudding-Vag. 
This pretty little bird is a 
LONG-TAIL'D TITMOUSE.—(Parus caudatus.) notable frequenter of | trees, 
hedgerows, and orchards, and 
is remarkable for its sociable habits, being generally seen in little troops of 
six or eight in number. It appears that the young birds always remain with 
their parents throughout the whole of the first year, so that when the brood 
happens to be a large one, as many as sixteen Long-tailed Titmice may be 
seen hopping and skipping about together. 
As far as is known, the Long-tailed Titmouse feeds exclusively on insects, 
and on account of its microscopical eyes is able to see and to catch the very 
minutest. The service which is rendered to agriculture by even a single nest 
of these birds is almost invaluable, for at all seasons of the year they con- 
tinue to obtain their food, catching the perfect insect in the summer, and 
feeding on the eggs, hidden larvee, and chrysalides in the winter. 
The nest of this species is undoubtedly the most wonderful example of 
bird architecture that is to be found in the British Islands, and is not 
exceeded in beauty by the home of any bird whatever. Jn form it somewhat 
resembles an egg, and it is built of moss, hair, a very little wool, the cocoon 
webs of spiders, and the silken hammocks of certain caterpillars, all woven 
into each other in the most admirable manner, The exterior of the nest is 
