Note k — BOOK IV. (continued 2)

Among many Instances that might be given of this Subtilty of birds, and other Creatures, that of the long-tailed Titmouse deserves Observation, who with great Art builds her Nest with Mosses, Hair, and the Webs of Spiders, cast out from them when they take their Flight (see Book VIII. Chap. 4. Note (e)) with which the other Materials are strongly tied together. Having neatly built, and covered her Nest with these Materials without; she thatcheth it on the top with the Muscus arboreus ramosus, or such like broad, whitish Moss, to keep out Rain, and to dodge the Spectator’s Eye; and within she lineth it with a great Number of soft Feathers; so many, that I confess I could not but admire how so small a Room could hold them, especially that they could be laid so close and handsomely together, to afford sufficient Room for a Bird with so long a Tail, and so numerous an Issue as this Bird commonly hath, which Mr. Ray saith (Synops. Method. Avium, p. 74.) Ova inter omnes aviculas numerosissima ponit. See more of the Nest of this Bird, from Aldrovand. in Willugh. Ornith. p. 243.