420 PARINiE. 



selves to the ground, where they advance by leaping. Their 

 nests are large, formed of moss, lichens, and other textile sub- 

 stances, and well lined with feathers or other soft materials. 

 Many species nestle in holes or crevices in trees, buildings or 

 walls, and some, like Woodpeckers, scoop out cavities in de- 

 cayed or even in fresh trees. Their eggs are generally nu- 

 merous, and of a whitish colour, usually marked with brown 

 or red spots. Species occur on both continents, and, although 

 diminutive and essentially insectivorous, they do not require 

 to migrate far southward in the winter, at which season they 

 traverse the woods in large flocks. Their voice is loud and 

 shrill, and their song consists of a few notes, which are rather 

 singular than pleasant. They are capable of performing long 

 flights, but in general their excursions are short, and their 

 mode of flying rapid and undulated. Most of the species are 

 usually so intent on searching for their food, that a person 

 may approach quite close to them ; and they are extremely 

 active, lively, and courageous. 



SYNOPSIS OF THE BRITISH GENERA AND SPECIES. 



GENUS I. PARUS. TIT. 



Bill short, straight, strong, sub-conical, its outlines convex, 

 the point of the upper mandible destitute of notch and rather 

 obtuse ; toes strong ; claws long, much arched, high, and ta- 

 pering to an extremely acute point ; wings rather short, concave, 

 rounded, the first quill very small, the fourth and fifth longest, 

 but only slightly exceeding those on each side ; tail of moderate 

 length, narrow, even, or a little emarginate, somewhat arched. 



1 . Parus major. Greater Tit. Head, fore part of the neck, 

 a transverse band on its sides, and a longitudinal band on the 

 breast and abdomen black ; cheeks white ; back yellowish- 

 green ; breast and sides yellow. 



2. Parus cceruleus. Blue Tit. Upper part of the head light 

 blue, encircled with white. 



