202 British Birds. 
Whilst waiting for the old birds to come I had a peculiar 
experience, as suddenly under niy feet the ground began to quiver, 
and, for a moment it felt very uncanny, something was burrowing 
underneath the ground and must have heard a slight movement 
just on reaching the top for it suddenly turned down again. 
I think tliis must have been a mole although I have never 
seen one at work before. 
So far I have found the Warblers much the most difficult 
to photogi'aph, as they are so (juick in their movements when 
feetling young, that unless a good light is obtainable, under ex- 
posure of the plates is sure to result if one does not want to show 
movement of the birds. 
Willow Wren {Pkytliuscopus trudiilus, Linn.) : A few 
days later I came across a Willow Wren's nest which was built in 
a bush covered with ivy, being domed and constructed of bents, 
leaves, and moss, snugly lined with feathers ; it contained five 
young. 
The old bird kept close about whilst I fixed up my hiding 
place, and no sooner was I covei-ed up than Mrs. Wren was on the 
nest brooding her newly hatched family ; the cock made frequent 
visits with food, generally consisting of some kind of fly or green 
grub, which he passed on to his wife and then flew away. 
The light was not very good but I think the print gives a 
very good idea of our little friend and his home. 
{To he continued.) 
The Rearing of Blue Tits— for Beginners. 
Bv Mi!S. E. Warren Vkrnon. 
I feel I Ijave not done much towards tlif lielping of our Editor 
this year. Suppose we blame tbe comet, it has hud everything that 
has happened so far put upon it, and niy laziness will only he another 
straw. 
I sat out of doors in a field one whole afternoon watching for a 
nest of Long-tailed Tits, but tho' 1 tried all ways, I was not successful 
in snaring the parent birds, the young flew next day. 
Then I was Ijrought a nest, and the female parent of Blue 
Tits, six in number. I found tliem in the Conservatory when I went 
to feed my birds at about 9 a.m. They were very hungry and she 
(the mother) who will be known as " Maria " (as she deserves a name, 
I am sure my readers will say before they come to tlie end of this 
paper), came to the 1jars of the small travelling cage they were in, 
