210 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



eggs of the Goldcrest by their much redder tinge. They are 

 reddish-white in ground-colour, richly marbled and speckled over 

 the entire surface with brownish-red. Some specimens are thus 

 richly coloured only on the larger end of the egg ; but usually 

 the whole surface is covered. On some specimens a few minute 

 streaks of brown are found. They measure from 0'56 to 0'5 inch 

 in length, and from 0'45 to 0'4 inch in breadth. 



THE GREAT TIT. 



(Par us major.) 



Plate 53, Fig. 13. 



The Great Tit is a common bird throughout the wooded por- 

 tions of Great Britain. It appears to be found throughout the 

 Palaoarctic region, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. 



The site of the Great Tit's nest varies considerably. Holes in 

 walls and decaying timber are favourite places ; so, too, are the 

 deserted nests of Crows and Magpies, as also amongst the sticks 

 in the foundation of Rooks' nests. Most curious situations are 

 sometimes chosen. Like the Robin, it appears to have the same 

 weakness for a flower-pot ; or it will sometimes select an old 

 pump. 



The eggs of the Great Tit are from five to eleven in number, 

 usually seven or eight, and they vary somewhat in size and mark- 

 ings. They are pure white in colour, sometimes with a faint 

 yellowish tinge, spotted and blotched with light reddish-brown. 

 Some specimens are far more richly marked than others, the 

 colour being distributed in bold blotches ; on others it consists of 

 mere specks, sometimes partly confluent and forming a zone 

 round the larger end of the egg. The eggs measure from 08 to 

 065 inch in length, and from 0"55 to 05 in breadth. 



THE BLUE TIT. 



(Par us ctcrtdeus.) 

 Plate 53, Figs. 14, 15. 



The Blue Tit is one of the most widely spread and certainly 

 one of the best known of our native birds. It is distributed over 



