424 PARUS. TIT. 



twigs of which they search for insects, aphides, pupae, and 

 larvj3e, hopping and fluttering about with surprising agility, 

 using almost every imaginable attitude, often clinging in an in- 

 verted position, and, when grasping a branch transversely, pivot- 

 ing their body from side to side in a singular manner. Their 

 flight is direct, executed by rapid flaps, not usually protracted, 

 but capable of being extended on occasion, when it becomes 

 undulated and rapid. They utter various shrill cries, and when 

 feeding generally emit a sharp note at intervals. They are petu- 

 lant, excitable, and courageous, defend themselves with energy, 

 and do not hesitate to attack much larger birds. They nestle 

 in holes in walls or trees, on branches of trees, or in cavities in 

 the ground ; lay numerous eggs, which are of a white colour 

 spotted or dotted with red or brown. The species which re- 

 side in the forests move about in troops, often associating with 

 other species of the same genus, as well as with Kinglets, 

 Creepers, and Nuthatches. 



Although the Jays are comparatively large birds, they bear 

 a great aflinity to the Tits, both in structure and habits. The 

 bill of Parus major is extremely similar to that of Garrulus 

 coeruleus, and blue and grey tints prevail in both genera. The 

 resemblance of the Tits to the Nuthatches, in form, colour, and 

 habits, is much more striking ; and their affinity to the Cer- 

 thiae and Reguli, although much less apparent, is yet not diffi- 

 cult to be traced. With the genus Mecistura they are also 

 more intimately allied than with any other. Many authors 

 consider them as closely connected with the Sparrows, Finches, 

 and other genera of the Deglubitores, with which they associate 

 them under the common names of Conirostres, Granivori, and 

 others of similar import ; but their affinity to these birds is 

 very remote, insomuch that a person practically acquainted 

 with them might well marvel at so unnatural an association, 

 did he not reflect that scarcely any thing is too absurd to re- 

 ceive the approbation of some ornithologists. The genus Ixos 

 seems to me to belong to this group ; but Parus pendul'mus, 

 and P. hiarmicus of the older authors belong to a different 

 order, the latter being decidedly a Husker. 



Six species occur in Britain, and are permanently resident. 



