LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 
183 
composed, its elasticity, and the great tenacity with which 
these small parts are held together. The last-mentioned 
quality appears due to the webs of spiders, and to the silky 
cots of chrysalides, of which great part is composed. 
These substances must also be a great protection to the 
interior of the nest against rain, which apparently cannot 
penetrate through them ; and such a defence must be the 
more necessary to this species, as many of their nests are 
built early in the spring, while the trees and hedges are still 
leafless, and are often placed in situations exposed to the 
weather. 
The Long-tailed Titmouse begins to construct its nest 
early in March, and it is said to be usually three weeks in 
progress. We once found one complete as early as the 22nd 
of that month, and being desirous to observe the habits of the 
little occupants, visited it several times ; but, being placed in 
a leafless hedge, we anticipated the fate that soon befel it,— 
it was pulled out by some merciless boys, and the fragments 
scattered about the lane. On our next visit we found the 
two little birds flying distractedly about, and hurrying to and 
fro near the fatal spot. This was continued for several days, 
and at last they were observed in another part of the same 
lane, about a hundred yards distant, employed in constructing 
a second nest from the scattered materials of the former. 
After about a fortnight, the second nest was also ruthlessly 
destroyed, and the poor little birds abandoned the spot. 
The nests of this species are usually found at the elevation 
of from two to five feet from the ground ; but we remember 
to have seen one in a tall tree, at about the height of five- 
and-tw'enty feet, probably in the process of building, as the 
birds were going frequently in and out. 
In the Long-tailed Titmouse the beak is very short, mea¬ 
suring less than a quarter of an inch, and, in consequence of the 
bristling feathers Avhich grow about its base, a very small part of 
