BIRD LIFE IN WASHINGTON 
113 
BUSH TITS 
Do you see that band of little chatter¬ 
ing mouse-colored birds in the willows by 
the lake shore? The tree is literally alive 
with them. They are about twice the size 
of humming birds. 
They have no song worthy of the name 
but how they can talk! They work and 
play in flocks. They are clean little peo¬ 
ple. It is a treat to watch them go bath¬ 
ing. Their bath tub is often a tiny stream 
in a ravine. Talking all the while, they 
go down into the water in troops like a 
crowd of boys at the beach. When they 
come out, they fly to some near-by bushes, 
give themselves a feiv shakes, and then 
dry themselves in the sun. All the while, 
they keep up that lively chatter. 
The nest interests people most. It is a 
deep pocket made of moss and lichens. It 
is eight or ten inches long and yet the 
builders are so tiny. 
The opening is generally on the side 
near the top. Half a dozen white eggs may 
be found deep in this queer home. One 
would think the mother bird must find it 
lonely, dark and close, hidden away in 
that deep pocket! Why did she choose 
that style of architecture? Possibly she 
t/ 
did it for protection for the nest looks 
like a Dig piece of moss that lias fallen 
from a limb above. Might not that some¬ 
times deceive a boy who would be inclined 
