1G6 
PARID.E. 
In March, or April, the Bine Titmouse begins again to 
construct its nest in the place it inhabited the foregoing 
spring, provided it has not been destroyed by the axe of 
the -woodman, or the insatiable demands of the cottager’s 
wife for firewood, the chosen spot generally being a hole 
in an old dry stump of a tree, or in a branch partly decayed; 
and usually a few feet from the ground. Old apple or 
pear-trees, willow stumps, half decayed oahs, etc., are often 
chosen. The place usually preferred to receive the nest is 
a hole, narrow at the entrance, sufficient only to receive the 
bird, but wider within, where it is often scooped out and 
prepared by the builder itself with its strong and sharp 
bill. The structure of the nest depends much upon the 
place in which it is situated: if the hole is small, the nest 
consists only of a few feathers or tufts of hair; if large, the 
foundation is of moss, grasses, and wmol; the nest is well 
constructed, and lined with hair. The number of eggs in 
early nests seldom exceeds eight; and in later, or second 
broods, seldom more than six are found. It is said that 
although this bird returns year after year to the same spot 
to build, it does not for a second brood inhabit the same 
hole, in which the first, or spring family, has been brought 
up. The Blue Titmouse is also very tenacious of her eggs, 
and will scratch and bite sharply any one who is venturous 
enough to put his hand into the hole where she sits. 
The most common note of the Blue Titmouse is zit! zit! 
which it utters very frequently, apparently for amusement; 
or it may be a sort of family, or gathering note, to keep 
the little party together; it is continually interchanged 
among them, Avhen several of these little creatures are seen 
flitting about and feeding together ; it also says tzitee ! Its 
true call, or pairing note is tsee! tsee! tsirrr ! very quickly 
repeated. There is little inducement to keep birds of this 
genus in confinement, as they have no song, and no habits 
