BLUE TITMOUSE 101 



On October 24, 1905, the Blue Tit was first observed 

 feeding in the tall reeds of a sewer on the roadside, not 

 far from Brenzett, which attracted attention on account 

 of the strange position, away from all the wooded country. 

 Again, on November 8 one was seen in the reeds not far 

 from Snave. On the night of November 15 snow fell, 

 and on the morning of the 16th several Blue Tits were 

 noticed feeding" close down to the water's edge among 

 the reeds in a large sewer on the road to Newchurch ; and 

 on the 17th they were still in the same reed-bed, evi- 

 dently searching for larvfB, or minute insects which climb 

 the reed-stems. In these places they continued all 

 through the winter. 



Mr. C. A. Witchell, of Eltham, Kent, gives an interest- 

 ing account of the variation of habits in the Blue Tit, in 

 the Zoologist, 1896, as follows : " Early in February last, 

 near New Eltham, and about 8 a.m., I noticed two Blue 

 Tits {Parus ccEruleus) flying from tree to tree along the 

 road in the direction of my walk. The leading bird, 

 which appeared to be a male, frequently uttered call- 

 notes ; the other, which I presumed to be a female, was 

 comparatively silent. The leading bird, after flying for 

 a Httle distance in the usual jerky manner of the species, 

 would suddenly extend his wings and hold them motion- 

 less, so that he might be said to soar along, in which 

 position the upward curving of the long feathers was 

 clearly visible. Sometimes he travelled in this way for 

 only a few feet, sometimes for as much as 10 yards. 

 Once when he was sailing along a male House- Sparrow 

 flew at him and made three or four attempts to peck him 

 in the air ; but the Tit with much agility avoided the 

 attack, and he then perched in a chestnut tree, closely 

 followed by the Sparrow ; but the latter, though not 



