204 
British Birds. 
sufFnigette, she called to them once, ate of all the tit-bits, and left her 
babies alone, to poor Maria ; I therefore put her into the aviary where 
she seems quite happy. 
Regarding feeding, tlie best way is to give only one sort of food 
at a time, a generous supply of ants' eggs, and when quite cleared up 
then mealworms. I only got enougli green caterpillars for two feeds, 
but of course that is their proper food. Accustom them to soft food, 
as otherwise the young will not eat it when able to feed themselves. 
The last thing at night a good suj)ply of food should be quickly 
introduced into tlie cage and the shutter opened so that the Maria in 
the case may see to feed early — 5 30 a.m. she generally starts, always 
waking the babies with a loud chatter. 
They are in a large aviary cage and some are in log nests and 
souie sleep on perches, the smaller ones still in nest 
The young sleep a great deal, and as they grow older feed less 
and with longei' periods between each meal. Maria seems quite 
happy. Twice she has been out in my room and both times gone back 
of her own accord to her cage and children. There is no manner of 
doubt a Blue Tit is one of the most adaptable as well as the most de- 
voted of mothers. 
Blackcaps will do the same, but are not so happy. 
Nest and Eggs of Willow Wren. Photo by T. Miller, F.Z.S. 
'Yhe a1)0ve interesting pl'otograph was taken by our esteemed 
member Mr. Tinuisv/ood Miller, on the occasion of the annual outing 
of the National British Bird and Mule Club, on May 28th. It will 
readily be seen that the nest was by no means an easy find, and also 
illustrates fully how many species use their surroundings to conceal 
their home. 
