252 TITMOUSE. 



La Mesange de Marais, Buf.v. 403. PI. en/. 3. f. 3. 



Bymeise, Gunth. Nest. U. Ey. 55. t. 13 — upper figure. 



Plattmeise, Naturf. xxv. 19. 



Tannen-holtz, Besch. Berl. iii. 462. 



Parolozino palustre, Zinnan. Uov. 77. t. 12. f. 6S. 1. 



Marsh Titmouse, Gen. Syn. iv. p. 541. Id. Sup. 189. Br. Zool. i. No. 165. pi. 57. 4. 



Id.fol. 114. t. W. f. 3. Id. Ed. 1812. i. p. 536. pi. 64. 4. Arct. Zool. ii. 427. E. 



Will. Engl. 241. pi. 43. Alb. iii. pi. 58. 1. Collinses Birds, pi. 10. f. 9. & pi. 9. 



f. 5. Shaw's Zool. x. p. 56. Bewick, i. pi. in p. 242. Lewin, iii. pi. 119. Wale. 



ii. p. 247. Pw/f. X)om. p. 10. Ore. Dicf. 



THIS is a trifle larger than the last, and four inches and a half 

 in length, weighing two drachms and a half. Bill dusky; the irides 

 hazel; crown of the head dull black ; cheeks dirty white ; on the 

 throat a small black spot; upper parts of the body rusty grey, the 

 under rufous white ; margins of the quills and tail pale grey ; legs 

 lead-colour. 



This is common in England, and found in moist situations, 

 chiefly where old willows abound, frequently making the nest in the 

 hole of a decayed one, which, when not sufficiently large, it will 

 hollow out deeper with the bill, making the bottom larger than the 

 entrance ; the nest is chiefly made of moss, thistle down, and some- 

 times a little wool, lined with thistle down; the eggs are five or six, 

 white, marked with red, as in the Colemouse, but the spots larger, 

 and less numerous, weighing from nineteen to twenty-one grains.* 

 It is more common than the Cole Titmouse, and has more of the 

 habits of the Blue Species, as it will partake equally of flesh ; it is 

 often found about oat ricks, though insects, no doubt, are the 

 principal food. Except to persons of nice discrimination, the two 

 last appear as one species ; but it may be observed, that in the last 

 described, no white is found in the wing coverts, which is always to 

 be seen in the Cole Titmouse; for even before the white appears on 

 the nape, some white on the wings is visible, in which state a figure 

 is given in the Folio Edition of the British Zoology, for the Marsh 

 Species : there is also some difference in the nest and eggs, as above 

 mentioned. 



* Orn. Diet. 



