80 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



June (continued) — 



Nyssia hispidaria 



Cerastis vaccinii 



Xanthia gilvago 



Scopolosoma satellitia 



Cosmia diffinis 

 ,, affinis, h 



Leptogramma boscana 



Coleophora fuscedinella, h 

 July : — 



Biston hirtaria 



Pygaera bucephala, generally near the top 



Nepticula marginicolella, first brood 



Coleophora limosipennella ,, 

 August : — 



Silenia lunaria 



Leptogramma scabrana 



Bueculatrix Boyerella 

 September : — 



Smerinthus tilise, h 



Amphydasis betularia, h 



Abraxas ulmata, on young trees 



Atemelia torquetella, h 



Lithocolletis schreberella, second brood 



Nepticula marginicolella, 

 October : — 



Nepticula viscerella, h 



COLEOPTERA. 

 Scolytus distructor mines elaborate galleries 

 between the wood and the bark, sometimes 

 being very numerous, and causirg great 

 destruction to the timber. 



BRITISH BIRDS. 

 THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



By S. L. Mosley. 



54. MARSH TIT. 

 Par us palustris, Linn. 

 Palustris. — Pains (Lat.), a marsh. 

 Size. — Length, 45 in. ; expanse, about 

 6 in. 



Plumage— Bill black ; eyes dark brown. 

 The whole of the upper part of the head, as 

 far as the eyes on the sides, and to the neck 

 behind, black. Back olive green ; wings 

 and tail a little darker, and the latter square 

 at the end. Throat black, mixed with grey- 

 tipped feathers. Cheeks, breast, and under 

 parts greyish white, tinged with brown at 

 sides and towards the vent. Legs lead- 

 colour. 



The Female is similar to the male, but 

 has the colour duller. 



The Young are like the females. 



Varieties. — Mr. Bond has a variety 

 which he aptly describes as having the 

 appearance of having been in a flour-bag, 

 all the colours being obscure and pale. 

 This was killed near Brighton in 1875. 

 Another in the same gentleman's collection 

 has the crown of the head black ; throat 

 black, with a few white feathers ; shoulders, 

 tips of primaries and tail dark brownish 

 black ; the rest of the plumage pure white, 

 with the back of the neck tinged with very 

 pale hair-brown. 



Note. — The note of the Marsh Tit 

 is like the syllables chee, tee, or zee, 

 somewhat resembling the squeaking of a 

 mouse ; it has also sharper and crisper call 

 notes. The note is generally the first indi- 

 cation we have when we are near the 

 presence of these birds, and they may often 

 be seen creeping along the branches uttering 

 their feeble cry. 



Flight. — The flight is very similar to 

 that of its congeners, being rather quick and 

 undulating. 



Migration.— They do not leave this 

 country, but remain in their favourite 

 haunts throughout the year. 



Food. — Their food consists of small 

 insects and their larvae, spiders, small seeds 

 and bits of meat. The insects are sought 

 in the ordinary way, by peering over the 

 branches and into the crevices of the bark, 



