MAKSH TITMOUSE. 
171 
Of all this family none is so pleasing and amusing as the 
Marsh Titmouse when caged, or kept in a large aviary. 
When first caught, ants’ eggs and elder-berries should be 
given them, but for a constant food the best is the seed of 
the sun flower. 
The Marsh Titmouse breeds among low bushes and trees 
of no great elevation, generally near water, in osier beds and 
willow plantations. The nest is always placed in a hole, at 
various elevations from the ground ; the most frequent place 
is the crown of a pollard-willow, which is sufficiently soft to 
allow the little birds to hollow out a place large enough for 
their nursery. “ W e have seen it,” says Montagu, “artfully 
excavating the decayed part of that tree, and carrying the 
chips in its bill to some distance; always working downwards, 
and making the bottom, for the reception of the nest, larger 
than the entrance.” The hole of entrance is generally per¬ 
fectly circular, and so small as only to admit the ingress and 
egress of the parent bird. Under such circumstances the 
nest consists only of a few hairs and tufts of wool; but if the 
cavity selected is of sufficient dimensions, moss, and grasses, 
fibres of roots, and bark, Avith wool and hair, are carried in, 
in considerable quantities. 
The eggs of this species are from eight to tAvelve in num¬ 
ber, and may be found in May; they are hatched after 
thirteen days’ incubation, in which both parents assist. The 
young birds are fed with small caterpillars, and the labours of 
the parents are incessant, in order to supply so many mouths. 
The parents show great attachment to the young, as Avell as 
to each other; as a proof of their affection, if one of a little 
family is caught and placed in a cage as a call-bird, all the 
family flock around, and all may successively be made pri¬ 
soners. Second, or late broods seldom exceed six in number. 
The Marsh Titmouse is four and a half inches in entire 
length : and weighs about two and a half drams. The Aving 
