. Cassell's book of birds . the nape and extending to the tail; thequills and tail-feathers are dark greyish brown, with light edges. The eye is brown, the beak black,with pale margins, and the feet dirty light blue. The length of the body is five and its breadtheight inches; the female is somewhat smaller than her mate. The crest of the young birds is notquite so large, and the markings on their head more indistinct. The Crested Tits are spread over Central Europe and North-western Asia, where they prin- ;o8 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. cipally frequent fir and pine forests, remaining almost throu
. Cassell's book of birds . the nape and extending to the tail; thequills and tail-feathers are dark greyish brown, with light edges. The eye is brown, the beak black,with pale margins, and the feet dirty light blue. The length of the body is five and its breadtheight inches; the female is somewhat smaller than her mate. The crest of the young birds is notquite so large, and the markings on their head more indistinct. The Crested Tits are spread over Central Europe and North-western Asia, where they prin- ;o8 CASSELLS BOOK OF BIRDS. cipally frequent fir and pine forests, remaining almost throughout the entire year in their nativewoods, only leaving their shelter for a short time in the spring and autumn. During the winter theyassociate freely with other species, and in their company ily about in search of food. The song otthe male is chirping and insignificant, and during the breeding season is accompanied by a greatvariety of gesticulation, and a constant display of the crest that adorns his head. The nests are. THE LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE {Orites caudatus). always placed in holes of trees, such as have a narrow entrance being preferred, and are situated atvarious heights from the ground, in some instances in the deserted dwellings of other birds or ofsquirrels; the exterior is formed of bits of moss, or some similar material* and lined with hair or woolof various kinds. The eggs, eight to ten in number, are small and delicate, and of snowy white,spotted with rust-red; both parents brood, and the young are hatched within a fortnight, and arereared on small caterpillars. As soon as they are able to support themselves, the old pair at oncemake preparations for a second family. Although rare in Great Britain, this species is abundant in all the northern regions of Europe,frequenting places where juniper trees are plentiful; it is common in Germany and the Alpinedistricts, and is scarce in Holland. THE SINGING BIRDS. 309 Colonel Montague says, It is not uncommon amongst t
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbreh, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectbirds
