106 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



followed the birds up and down the lane for some time, 

 endeavouring without success to knock down one of the white- 

 headed birds. Having thus failed to obtain a specimen, he 

 came to me to see a skin of the continental bird, to ascertain 

 whether the tints of the body-colour were precisely identical. 

 He assures me that such was the case; but whether the strangers 

 had yellow eyelids could not of course be ascertained. The fact 

 of three individuals occurring together materially strengthens 

 the evidence of this excellent ornithologist. 



BEITISH LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 



Acredula rosea (Blyth). 



I have never come across this Titmouse in any of the more 

 exposed portions of Lakeland, but it occurs in very tolerable 

 numbers throughout the plantations of sheltered valleys ; 

 frequently, also, beside our becks and watercourses, in the 

 neighbourhood of which it appears to find a plentiful supply of 

 the tiny caterpillars which it prefers to any other insects. Mr. 

 W. Duckworth considers it fairly common in the country round 

 Morecambe Bay. Dr. Gough catalogued the species as 'common' 

 near Kendal. The newly-fledged young are especially attractive, 

 as they flit about the low bushes or perch in rows on the 

 branches of trees beside the river, overflowing with zeal to 

 secure the larvae of Geometrce, their long rectrices streaming 

 through the air as they follow their fellows in undulating flight. 



GEEAT TITMOUSE. 



Par us major, L. 



This species and the Blue Tit frequent the trees of our older 

 parks, such as Holker or the fine avenue of oaks at Levens, the 

 timber there affording many nest-holes, and hecatombs of tiny 

 caterpillars, which, if unchecked, would devastate the foliage. 

 In the last days of June, often earlier, the old birds forage 

 actively for their newly-fledged broods. It is pretty to see them 

 encouraging the youngsters to persevere in their first aerial 

 efforts. Both species nest in every manner of situation ; a hole 



