GREAT TITMOUSE. 93 



Family TARID.^. Genus Tarus. 



Subfamily PARIN.^. 



GREAT TITMOUSE. 



Parus major, Lifi/neus. 

 Double Brooded. Laying season, April and June. 



British breeding area: Next to the Blue Tit- 

 mouse the present species is certainly the commonest 

 and most widely distributed Titmouse found within our 

 area. It breeds more or less abundantly throughout 

 the wooded and well-timbered districts of the British 

 Islands, with the exception of the Hebrides, Orkneys, 

 and Shetlands, 



Breeding habits : Confined in a similar manner to 

 the cultivated and timbered districts as the preceding 

 species, its haunts are practically the same. It may be 

 said to breed almost everywhere, amongst trees of all 

 kinds, in woods, plantations, and coppices, in gardens 

 and orchards, in lanes and hedgerows, near houses, and 

 in outbuildings. Like the preceding species it pairs for 

 life, returning year by year to one favourite spot ; and 

 although gregarious and social at other times, becomes 

 solitary during the nesting period, each pair keeping to 

 themselves. The birds also become much less noisy as 

 soon as incubation commences, and skulk more closely 

 amongst the foliage. The nest of the Great Titmouse may 

 be conveniently divided into two very distinct types, each 

 made in quite a different situation. First we have the 

 most usual nest in a hole of a tree, post, or stump, or in 

 a crevice of a wall, loosely and carelessly made of felted 

 moss, dead leaves, dry grass, hair, and wool, lined with 

 feathers. Second, we have the much less frequent nest 

 placed in the deserted home of a Crow, Magpie, or 



