660 Zoology. 



I may jocularly notice, that pertinacious prehe7isive7iess of 

 talon is a characteristic of Parus caeruleus ; a fact that was 

 fearfully familiarised to me in very early life. In an outhouse 

 of my father's some flesh was hanging, to which, on the door 

 being left open, a blue tit made access, and, being observed 

 there by me, and a senior relative, now no more, was detained 

 in the outhouse, and captured, and given to me. I was very 

 eager to receive Parus caeruleus, but more so to relinquish it ; 

 for, having escaped from my hand, the terror-stricken little 

 creature struck its talons so tenaciously into a part of my 

 dress, as to require some effort to displace it. — J. D. 



The Greater Titmouse [Parus major L.) — This species, it is 

 stated in Rennie^s Montagues Ornithological Dictioriary, p. 350., 

 " has all the habits of the blue tit." Some original remarks, 

 however, on the greater titmouse, from our practical and 

 valuable correspondent J. M., have long lain by us, which we 

 now present : — 



"Jan. 20. (1828.) This bird calls. Although both sexes 

 of this species are most useful birds in gardens during sum- 

 mer, living entirely on the caterpillars which infest fruit trees ; 

 yet, in winter, if the weather be severe, they fall on and destroy 

 the flower-buds of plums, apricots, &c. In the same season 

 they frequently kill the tenants of the apiary. Placing them- 

 selves at the entrance of the hive, they rap smartly with their 

 bill against the edge of the door, which soon brings an unfor- 

 tunate sentinel within reach, who is instantly seized by the 

 middle, carried to a neighbouring tree, and beat to death. 

 They eat the head and thorax only, rejecting the abdomen ! 

 The writer has often been obliged to shoot the birds which 

 took to this way of living, to preserve the bees. [See also 

 Vol. III. p. 476.] They have no regular song, but several 

 sharp and lively calls, expressive of love, joy, and fear : they 

 are among the first to give notice of the approach of the hawk, 

 cat, or fox ; and dart into the thickest bush for safety. They 

 breed and roost in holes of walls, and in hollow trees ; and 

 the same pair, or some of their progeny, will occupy the same 

 hole for many successive years." — J. M, Jan. 20. 1828. 



Strange Choice of . Residence of the Greater Titmouse (Pdtms 

 major L.) — Sir, Some birds, like some other bipeds, select 

 strange and singular situations to build in, and seem desirous 

 to have their business in troubled places. From early youth 

 I recollect a greater titmouse (Parus major i.), or Tom 

 Noup (as we call him here), has annually, or nearly so, built 

 in my pump, where there is a nest and eggs at this moment. 

 It is placed just under the top of the handle, where that lever 

 bends, and is joined to the piston by a swivel. The only 



