THE LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 849 



through which the bird can pass. I believe that all domed nests, 

 whether of bird or beast, are constructed by at least two archi- 

 tects, one of which remains within, while the other works from 

 without. This is certainly the case with many creatures, and is 

 probably so with all. The materials of which the nest is made 

 are mosses of various kinds, wool, hair, and similar substances, 

 woven by them with great firmness. It is remarkable that in 

 the construction of this nest, which requires peculiar solidity, the 

 Long-tailed Titmouse uses materials like those which are em- 

 ployed by the humming-birds, and binds its nest together with 

 the webs of spiders, and the silken hammocks of various cater- 

 pillars. The exterior of the nest is covered with lichens, so that 

 the whole edifice looks very much like a natural excrescence 

 upon the tree or bush in which it is placed, as is the case with 

 the ■^ell-known nest of the chafSnch. 



Sometimes the form of the nest is rather different from that 

 which has been mentioned, and the structure is flask-shaped, the 

 entrance corresponding to the neck of the flask. Now and then 

 a nest is found in which there are two openings, one near the top 

 in the usual position, and the other on the opposite side and near 

 the bottom. The presence of one or two apertures is probably 

 influenced by the position of the nest and the climate of the lo- 

 cality. If the finger be introduced into the aperture, a charm- 

 ingly soft and warm bed of downy feathers is felt, in which, 

 rather than on which, the numerous eggs repose. 



The bird will build its nest in various trees, but always chooses 

 a spot where the branches are very close and the foliage dense. 

 The gorse bush is a favorite residence of the Long-tailed Tit- 

 mouse, and so deeply is the nest buried in the prickly branches 

 that it can not be removed without the aid of thick leather gloves, 

 and a sharp, strong knife. Some skill and artistic taste are re- 

 quired in order to secure a good specimen, and it is difficult "to 

 hit the happy medium between cutting away too many branches, 

 and retaining so many that the shape of the nest can not be seen 

 for their luxuriance. I may mention here that such nests are 

 fertile homes of insects and various vermin, and that they ought 

 to be placed in a box with spirits of turpentine for some weeks, 

 and then exposed to strong heat, before the possessor can be sure 

 that all existing insects are dead, and their eggs addled. 



The number of eggs is rather variable, but is always great, and, 

 on an average, some ten or twelve eggs can be found in a nest. 



