238 BRITISH BIRDS. 
The Titmoufe begins to pair early in February 5 
the male and female confort for fome time before 
they make their neft, which is compofed of the 
fofteft and moll downy materials — they build it ge- 
nerally in the hole of a tree ; the female lays from 
eight to ten eggs, which are white, fpotted with 
rull colour. BufFon fays, that the young brood 
continue blind for feveral days, after which their 
growth is very rapid, and they are able to fly in 
about fifteen days : After they have quitted the 
neft they return no more to it, but perch on the 
neighbouring trees, and inceffantly call on each o- 
ther ; they generally continue together till the ap- 
proach of fpring invites them to pair. We kept 
one of thefe birds in a cage for fome time ; it was 
fed chiefly with hemp-feed, which, inftead of break- 
ing with its bill, like the Linnet, it held very dex- 
teroufly in its claws, and pecked it till it broke the 
outfide fhell; it likewife ate raw flefh minced 
fmall, and was extremely fond of flies, which, 
when held to the cage, it would feize with great 
avidity : It was continually in motion during the 
day, and would, for hours together, dart backwards 
and forwards with aftonifhing activity. Its ufual 
note was ftrong and fimple ; it had, befides, a more 
varied, but very low, and not unpleafant fong : — 
During the night it refted on the bottom of the 
cage. 
