Williamson's Weekly Nature Notes

In my photograph taken through the kitchen window is a marsh tit; in the painting by Philip Rickman is the willow tit.

Way back in 1900, a Sussex naturalist by the name of W R Butterfield determined to discover whether there was any difference. Excited rumours, you see, had emanated from South Kensington's Natural History Museum that not all marsh tits were marsh tits.

Messrs Hartert and Kleinschmidt had examined specimens from Middlesex. They found minute differences. The hunt was on. In August, Butterfield loaded his No 3 pop-gun with dust-shot and crept silently through the woods near St Leonards-on-Sea.

Pop after pop reverberated through the leafy verdure. Down came the marsh tits one, two, three. Many more followed.

By December, he had several dozen marsh tits and at least half a dozen lookalikes. He skinned the lot. And off they went to the scientists in the museums.

For full feature see West Sussex Gazette March 12