348 HOMES WITHOUT HANDS. 



up its garrulous chirp soon after daybreak. At that hour of the 

 morning the Long-tailed Titmouse seems to cast off fear and dif- 

 fidence, and allows itself to be watched without displaying much 

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

 served 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 confi- 

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

 the early morning. 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 owner 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 sanctuary 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 independ- 

 ent 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 no- 

 tice 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, dart- 

 ing from branch to branch and tree to tree as if they were little 

 arrows projected from bows, have at one time been inmates of the 

 same nest, the beautiful domed structure 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 nest of 

 UQ great size, but the interior is so filled with feathers and down 

 that the space is still farther limited. 



The nest of the Long-tailed Titmouse is rather variable in 

 shape, but its usual form is shown in the illustration. Generally 

 it is rather oval, and has an aperture at one side and near the top. 



