MARSH TITMOUSE. 
175 
some of the others. In its habits it prefers low 
brushwood to the wood, forest, or hedge row, 
and is found seeking its food near the ground, 
though, at the same time, it does not appear to 
possess any of the habits of the aquatic type, the 
food being principally insects. In winter, Mr 
Selby says, “ it exhibits no dislike to carrion,” 
it feeds also on seeds and kernels, among which 
are particularly mentioned as favourites those of 
the thistle and sun-flower. It is said to breed in 
the holes of trees, frequently selecting a pollard 
willow, often forming a cavity itself for the recep- 
tion of the nest, the materials of which consists 
of grass and moss for the skeleton, and of the soft 
pappus or down of the willow catkins for lining.* 
The eggs seven or eight in number, round in 
form, and spotted with rufous. We are not 
aware that any particular note in spring or pairing 
time has been noticed. Its geographical range 
is known to extend from Italy on the one side, to 
Russia and Siberia on the other ; but it has not been 
ascertained to reach beyond the bounds of Europe. 
The species of North America, pants atricapillus, 
for some time confounded with it, though closely 
allied, is quite distinct, and is at present known 
only as a North American bird. We have given 
a woodcut of the head of the latter, which will 
serve to point out the most prominent distinc- 
tions in the markings. The head, nape of the 
neck, and throat, black ; the former in a line with 
the eyes, forming a very distinct and marked cowl 
* Hewitson’s Oology. 
