The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-07-23
CtaGADIsEN,s DEPARTMENT.
'rhc Long-taiIcd Titmice.


There is a large book entitled CLONES
Without Hands, which every boy and girl
ought to read. 1t tolls of so many curious
places in which birds and small animals
live, and gives so many drol facts about
the habits of our two.footed and four-foot-
ed friends who are unable to talk, but yet
do many things that we could not | am
not certain that this book says anything
about such birds home as we are about
to describe. l hardly think it speaks of it.
But really this home made without hands
is one Of the most beautiful and most Gu
rious there is, and is worth studying little.
Is it not pretty in shape? A perfect oval,
almost you see, with inst one small hole,
toward the top, for doorway. The out
side sparkles with silver colored lichens,
that are stuck closely to firm foundation
of fine moss and wool. 1t is inhabited by
two small and handsome birds, but the fe-
male built it, and she occupied whole
fortnight in the work. Think how patient
she was, gathering the material, shaping it
rounding it ont all round fastening it Sc
cuIely about the twigs, roofing it over, and
lining it with the soft feathers inside.
| cannot help wondering where she learn
ed how, can you? Her mother never taught
her. She did not see her mother make the
one she spent her baby birdhood in. She
just grew up in one like this, and then went
away from it when cold weather came, with
her parents and her little brothers and sis
tiers, and staid away all winter, smuggling
up with them all at roosting time to keep
warm, until they all looked like a funny
ball Of feathers, without any head or any
feet. nd then when spring came, she
said Eyes" as bird does, suppose, when
some polite beau proposed marriage, and
while he sat near by and looked on she
built the house they were to live in.
When the house was built she Furnished
it" with ten or twelve little white eggs,
each family specklcd with red, and sat
down on them for good long rest (of
course she was tired) until the little brides
came, and then she did her best, in bird
fashion, to bring them up in the way good
birds ought to 20. There you have quite
"A little domestic story, haven't you? | could
tell you more about it, but it isn't Just the
thing to gossip about other peoples house
hold affairs.
Mrs Titmousc Can odd name for bird
isn't it?) and Mr.. Titmouse do not live in
this country, believe. never saw them
here. They can be found lat home" in
Europe, where there are numerous couples
just like them and known by the same
name. With their slim little bodies and
very long tails they appear like SO many
darts flying through the air, their motions
being very quick and sprightly. They cat
insects and insects eggs, and seem always
in search of a dinner. They will hang in
every possible position from the ends of
twigs, and creep like mice around the large
branches, and it is the last popularity that
causes them to be called titmice. never
heard them sing, but they have several
notes, and can chirp quite unsteady.
Bird life is very interesting, to me.
love to sit out under the trees and watch
the wrens and robbins, and swallows
those domestic birds that seem so very tame
and human. We can learn many useful
lessons, by observing the conduct and hab-
its of our friends whose coming and going
are so regular. advise you all to take up
the study of bird-liie.