162 The Blue Tit. 

The Tom Tit makes its nest in recesses where there 
is an entrance by an aperture only sufficiently large to 
allow its passage; it builds in walls and decayed trees. 
I have known one of these birds make a nest and lay 
its eggs in a mole’s run, but the two first places are 
generally chosen. Its nest is made up of warm mate- 
rials, like the great tit’s. The number of eggs laid by 
this bird varies from seven to thirteen. Should the 
female bird be sitting on her eggs, and a person put 
his finger into the small opening far enough to reach 
the nest, he is sure to receive a smart peck, which will 
most likely make the finger withdraw ; and should it 
be tried again, another peck will be repeated without 
the bird moving from her nest. 
This bird is much attached to its home, and when 
plundered, will remain near the spot making an un- 
pleasant hissing noise. The young of this bird have a 
dingy appearance till after the first moulting. 

