MARSH TITMOUSE. 
157 
INSESSORES. PARIDJE. 
DEN TIR OS TRES. 
MARSH TITMOUSE. 
Parus palustris. 
PLATE XL. FIG. I. 
Considerable pains is taken by the Marsh Titmouse 
in hollowing out a suitable cavity for its nest; whilst 
excavating which, Colonel Montagu has watched it care¬ 
fully conveying away the chips to some distance in its 
bill. It is, as its name implies, fond of low marshy 
districts, and, as Mr. Yarrell observes, usually makes 
choice of a pollard and decayed willow, in which to rear 
its young ones. The nest is made with more care than 
those of the preceding, and is formed of moss, grass, 
and lined with the soft down of the willow. Mr. Gurney 
has known this species to make its nest like the cole tit, 
in a rat’s hole, which was in a closely-mown lawn. 
The eggs are seven or eight in number; they resemble 
very closely those of the blue titmouse ; the spots are, 
however, usually larger, and the form of the egg is 
rounder and often much like those of the willow-wren. 
