NOTES ON TWO MORE SALMON-RIVERS. 
139 
us. Possibly (we thought), like ducks, the tits form the 
nest after the eggs have been laid ; but, on further 
investigation, the solution proved to be that the nest¬ 
less, excavated abodes belonged to the northern Parus 
borealis , while the mossy structures in natural holes 
were those of its southern congener P. palustris. We 
watched the old birds feeding their young on moths. 
The note of the marsh-tit, when alarmed, is much more 
metallic than those of either the blue, oxeye, or coal-tits, 
and is easily distinguishable even at a distance. This 
applies equally to the British and Scandinavian forms 
of the marsh-tit. 
On May 30 th, while strolling through open wood 
some five hundred feet above river-level, a faint squeak¬ 
ing noise attracted attention. Not recognizing the 
note, which came from among juniper bushes adjoining 
pine-forest, A. approached the spot. After waiting 
some time, somewhat confounded because, though close 
at hand, the notes seemed to come from several different 
directions, a heavy greenish bird of bunting-like build 
flew up, carrying food, and unconcernedly tumbled itself 
into the scrub. Immediately a lively chirrup indicated 
the feeding of young, and a chorus of hungry throats at 
once indicated the positions of the several youngsters. 
Presently the old bird flew silently off, alighting on the 
ground at some distance. “ I watched her carefully ”— 
I quote my brothers note—•“ she ran on the ground 
smartly like a tree-pipit, and quite unlike a bunting, 
actively searching for food. Then returning to another 
part of the scrub near me, she fed another young one; 
but before doing so, perched on a tree close by and, 
seeing danger, raised her crown-feathers like a skylark. 
