BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 75 



(Brcat ^itmouec 



'^f-^JoHA/Uur/CA/i/. \ 



The Great Titmouse {Parus major^ Linnrcus) is one of 

 the commonest and most widely distributed of the resident 

 titmice found in the British Islands. It is also a resident 

 species in Central and Southern LLurope, as well as Eastern 

 Asia, and it occurs in some parts of Northern Africa. The 

 adult has the head and throat glossy black, iridescent with 

 rich blue ; ear-coverts and cheeks, white ; nape, yellowish- 

 green, showing a whitish spot in the centre ; hack, 

 yellowish-green ; rump and tail, bluish-grey, the latter 

 having the exterior feathers of outer webs wliite ; greater 

 coverts tipped with white, margined externally with grey ; 

 primaries, blackish ; chest, and centre of abdomen, black ; 

 rest of under parts, dull sulphur-yellow ; irides, dark brown ; 

 bill, black ; legs and feet, slate colour. Lengtii, about six 

 inches. 



