CLASS II. AYES: ORDER 2. PASSERES. 
139 
THE CRESTED TIT. THE BEARDED TIT. 
Pudding, Hiichnuch^ and Mum-Ruffin, of the EngUsh, are among its popular designations there. 
The Italians call it PendoUno; the French Mesange a la Longue Queue and Perd sa Queue; 
the Germans Langschivdnzige Meise ; and the AVelsh Y Benloyn Gnyffonliir. This species 
is found throughout Europe and Northern Asia, and remains through the winter in England. 
Pennant, speaking of their flight, says that from the slimness of their bodies and great length of 
tail, they appear like so many darts cutting the air. Yarrell describes the habits of this interest- 
ing little bird as follows: "The nest of this species is another example of ingenious construction, 
combining beauty of appearance with security and warmth. In shape it is nearly oval, with one 
small hole in the upper part of the side by which the bird enters. I have never seen more than 
one hole. The outside of this nest sparkles with silver-colored lichens, adhering to a firm texture 
of moss and wool, the inside profusely lined with soft feathers. The nest is generally placed in 
the middle of a thick bush, and so firmly fixed that it is naostly found necessary to cut out the 
portion of the bush, containing it, if desirous of preserving the natural appearance and form of the 
nest. In this species the female is known to be the nest-maker, and to have been occupied for a 
fortnight to three weeks in completing her habitation. In this she deposits from ten to twelve 
eggs, but a larger number are occasionally found ; they are small and white, with a few pale red 
specks, frequently quite plain, measuring seven lines in length and five lines in breadth. The 
young family of the year keep company with the parent birds during their first autumn and win- 
ter, and generally crowd close together on the same branch at roosting-time, looking, when thus 
huddled up, like a shapeless lump of feathers only. These birds have several notes, on the sound 
of which they assemble and keep together: one of these call-notes is soft and scarcely audible; a 
second is a louder chirp or twitter ; and a third is of a hoarser kind." 
The Penduline Titmouse, P . pendul'mus^ is four and a half inches long; reddish-gray above; 
lower parts whitish, with rosy tints; lives along the sandy borders of rivers, and builds a flask- 
shaped nest at the extremity of some willow twig or other flexible branch of a tree ; found in 
Southeastern Europe. 
The Cape Titmouse, P. Capensis, found at the Cape of Good Hope, has the head, throat and 
belly black ; the rest of the body cinereous : it is noted, like the preceding, for its elaborate nest. 
