cases where a specimen has not been procured, and I a,h very doubtful as to the occurrence of this bird out of the
primeval forests of the n o r t h “ On Tuesday I had the pleasure of observing several Crested Titmice among
some Scotch firs near Craig Lockhart; within about an hour's walk of this city. Their presence was betrayed
by their peculiar and incessantly repeated n otes; but even after the discovery had been made it was no easy
matter to keep the birds in view, owing to their continual restlessness, in which respect, as well as in the
amusing variety of their motions, they bore a striking resemblance to the more familiar Blue Titmouse.
They kept pretty near together, and for the first twenty minutes or so after my arrival they appeared to be
making but a cursory examination of the trees, constantly flitting from branch to branch, and seemingly
obtainin'* but little in the way of food. At length, without any apparent cause, they all flew off to a small
clump of Scotch firs standing alone on a more sheltered part of the hill-side. Whether they had received a
signal from one of their number who had been sent out to explore, or whether they preferred the comparative
shelter of their new position, it is impossible to s a y ; but a t any rate it was evident that they had now found
on abundant supply o f food; for not only did they confine themselves to one single tree, but they also appeared
to be directing their attention almost exclusively to the extremities o f the smaller branches, to which they
might frequently be seen hanging, back downwards, a t the same time making vigorous use of their bills. In
this manner they were still continuing to employ themselves when I left the spot about half an hour later,
having repeatedly, but in vain, endeavoured to ascertain the nature o f their food, by examining such of the
smaller branches as could he obtained. Although I broke these from the same tree by means of a long stick,
the birds were so little alarmed as merely to fly to the opposite side of the tree (which, however, was one of
considerable spread), and there remain cnriously eyeing me until the interruption ceased.—Edinburgh,
Mar. 3 ,1862.” ,
“ In its habits and actions,” says Mr. Hewitson, “ the Crested resembles the Blue T it so closely that, when
in the branches of a tree above yonr head, it is only by the crest that you can distinguish it. It is equally
noisy, and always on the move. I have watched them for hours, as in busy pursuit of insects they thronged
the branches of some noble English-louking trees, which adorn the outskirts of the forest a t Kissingcn in
Bavaria. They were equally abundant amongst the pine trees ; and although it was too late to obtain their
eggs, I had the pleasure of discovering one of their nests, and o f thus learning something of their nidifica-
tion. When trees are felled in the forest, their tranks are left standing about two feet above the
ground; and in the decayed wood of one of these a hole was scooped to contain the nest of which I
have spoken—just such a situation as would have been chosen by the Coal Tit. The nest was formed
of dry grass and moss, lined with feathers, and contained five full-fledged young ones, who scrambled
out of it as soon as we began to examine them. This species is said to lay from seven to ten eg g s ;
but each o f the nests seen by Mr. Hancock contained no more than five, and the one above mentioned
the same number.” . . .
A Crested T it which I killed in one o f the great pine forests of Norway, had the legs pale blue grey, the
bill black, and the eye brown. The birds were moving about in small companies, uttering a sharp and
piercing cry. I observe no outward difference in the sexes. Both have the upright top-knot, a feature
which adds much to their elegance. As regards colour, they have but little to recommend them. Their
food is insects, like that o f the other members of the genus, to which they assimilate m pertness, and in
liveliness and activity. The young from the nest resemble the adults, and in this respect they approach the
PtBcilx. Specimens from Norway are generally paler in colour, and had fuller crests than the specimens
sent me from Scotland.
In Mr. Hewitson’s valuable ‘ Coloured Illustrations of the Eggs of British Birds,’ we read that his figure
of the egg of this species was taken from a specimen sent to him by Mr. John Hancock, of Newcastle (who
found several of its nests in the woods o f Morayshire), accompanied by the following note About the
middle of April they were only in process of building; but by the 6th of May, when the nests were taken, the
eggs were five in number. Whether this be the full complement or not I am unable to say. The nests were
all placed in similar situations, in holes of old stumps o f trees, from three to six feet above the ground.’
They were composed o f rabbits’ o r hares' down, a little moss, and a few feathers. At first sight they appeared
to be composed entirely of down, but on closer examination they were found to be constructed of the above-
mentioned materials.”
The Plate represents the two sexes, of the natural size, on a branch of a silver fir.