17 



17. — Great Titmouse (Parus Major). 



These bold little birds suddenly appear at " The Cedars," 

 in considerable numbers about the middle of February. 



18. — Coal Titmouse (Parus Britannicus). 



Harry Witherby and I watched a pair for a long time play- 

 on a birch tree at " The Cedars' " pond, 8th April, 1903. 



This Bird is peculiar to the British Isles. 



19. — Blue Titmouse (Partis Cceruleus). 



A resident. On 11th April, 1901, I found the Nuthatch's 

 hole in the orchard, at " The Cedars," was taken possession of by a 

 pair of Blue Tits. On 28th January, 1903, I watched one of these 

 birds laboriously ring-barking the twigs of an elm on " The 

 Cedars' " cricket ground. I often wondered what it was 

 that destroyed the twigs and ends of small branches, causing 

 them to stand out conspicuously and disfiguringly ugly. No 

 doubt the birds do it while hunting for insects. 



They appear here at the end of January, and pair off the 

 middle of February. They nested in a big holly opposite " West 

 Lodge " drawing room, 1903. 



20. — Nuthatch (Sitta Ccesia). 



This beautiful little bird is a visitor that breeds abundantly 

 at " The Cedars." On 8th April, 1898, I watched one for along 

 time plastering mud round the hole in a tree I have known them 

 nest in. On the 18th, I saw the Nuthatch go into the hole, and 

 we then left for the country. On 11th April, 1901, I found a 

 pair of Blue Tits had taken possession of this same hole. It is 

 strange that this tree should be so popular, as all through the 

 spring it supports one end of the rope on which "The Cedars'" 

 carpets are beaten. 



At " West Lodge," 28th July, 1892, I saw three Nuthatches 

 taking flies off an oak tree I had sugared overnight. 



This bird can hunt a tree trunk both up and down, differing 

 in this respect from the Tree Creeper, which can only work up.. 



21.— Wren (Troglodytes Parvulus). 



A resident that nests freely at "The Cedars." In May. 

 1903, a Wren built its oval little nest on the railway running 



