GREAT TITMOUSE. 133 



Britain, though rare in the extreme north of Scotland ; the 

 European and western Asiatic form is an irregular though 

 often abundant immigrant in autumn, and a winter visitor. Our 

 bird is distinguished by its much stouter bill, but not by any 

 constant colour differences. 



The tits as a group are perhaps our most popular birds, for 

 they readily respond to encouragement, coming to feed on 

 bones, suet or nuts hungup for their benefit in our gardens ; the 

 Great and Blue are the most abundant visitors. Many people 

 however, find difficulty in distinguishing the various species 

 though each has its characters ; in the Great the large size, 

 and the long black bib or waistcoat from chin to vent. Early 

 in January, not infrequently in December, the Great Tit begins 

 his strange song, from which he gets his names — " Sawfinch " 

 and " Saw-sharpener," a rasping, often squeaky, up and down 

 reiteration of two notes — pee-ker^ pee-ker, or, as Miss Turner 

 has it, teacher, teacher. Some consider this a love-call and not 

 a song, but it has all the characters of nuptial music though 

 unmusical, and in April and May the male merely varies it by 

 the addition of an extra note or two or by changing it into three 

 or four sweeter sounds. The calls are varied, a sharp zi^ zi, and 

 a metallic ti7ik, as well as a harsh churr. For a short time in 

 summer the bird is silent, but autumnal saw-sharpening is 

 frequent, and in winter the constant calls are varied by occa- 

 sional outbursts. In winter the sociable Great Tit joins with 

 other species in nomadic wanderings, roaming from tree to tree 

 with undulating flight, hurriedly examining branches, boles and 

 buds ; one moment a bird is on the ground, throwing over the 

 dead leaves or tearing up the moss in its search for prey, the 

 next hammering at some slumbering insect below a twig, from 

 which it swings head downwards. From these flocks a bird 

 will at times detach itself and flit from twig to twig just above 

 one's head, scolding vigorously. The menu of the Great Tit is 

 varitd ; spiders and insects of all kinds are eaten, and acorns, 



