FEEDING THE BIRDS IN WINTER. 
3 
the same pair ; and most amusing as well as audacious little 
fellows these tits are, more bold and fearless even than the blue 
tit. When they see me approaching the place where their seed 
is kept, they fly on alongside or just in front of me, flitting from 
bush to bush, or dropping down on the ground close to my feet, 
uttering from time to time their angry scolding note, as if 
demanding instant attention to their wants. At other times I 
find myself waylaid and almost forced to attend to them. Their 
action in descending to the ground from a tree has a singular 
resemblance to the fall of a leaf ; they seem to be blown to their 
destination, rather than to fly to it by their own will. On 
throwing them some hemp seed, of which they are very fond, 
down drops one of the tiny fairy-like birds, picks up a seed, and 
is off to some neighbouring bush, when, holding it securely 
between his toes, he hammers away at it with all his might, to 
get rid of the outer husk before eating it. He soon returns for 
another, which he treats in the same manner, often making use 
of the same twig for this purpose several times in succession. 
This pair of marsh tits became so tame that they would 
come indoors for their seed. The tin in which it was kept hap- 
pened to be left one morning outside the door, where it was soon 
discovered by these little birds, who were not slow in helping 
themselves from it. We then took to putting it on the threshold, 
to which they made no objection ; and then, by gradually moving 
it further into the room, they were induced to come inside to a 
distance of some yards from the door, and to do this they had 
first to pass through a small anteroom. Unlike the great tit and 
blue tit, this species seems to prefer maize, hemp and some other 
seeds to fat or meat of any sort. 
Though there is often some little quarrelling, bullying and 
hustling going on at the table, I do not remember ever having 
seen a tit of any kind guilty of such conduct : with all their 
spirit and vivacity they are particularly good-tempered birds. 
This rule, however, like all others, has its occasional excep- 
tions. If two of the smaller tits happen to arrive at the table 
at the same time, instead of fighting for the possession of the 
seed jar, one of them cheerfully waits till the other has helped 
himself. Yet these bold, plucky birds show little fear of others 
very much larger than themselves, such as blackbirds and 
thrushes. At the same time, I fancy they have a wholesome 
respect for their big relative {Panis major), though, as far as I 
am aware, he seldom if ever exercises his reputed murderous 
propensities in a wild state. The latter, though a gaily- 
coloured conspicuous bird, is less attractive, I think, than the 
three smaller short-tailed tits, being more wary and distrust- 
ful ; but the lovely, comical little blue tit is quite irresistible. 
It is amusing to watch him pegging away with all his might as 
he hangs, back downwards, from his bit of suet, casting from 
time to time rapid glances behind or beneath him, to guard 
against a surprise. Several broods have been reared here in 
