BLUE TIT. 433 



ternally with light blue, internally with whitish ; the first two 

 primaries without the blue edging, the next five white on the 

 edge towards the end, the secondary quills tipped with white. 

 The tail is light blue, the feathers becoming tinged with dusky 

 towards the tip, the outer with its margin white. The fore- 

 neck, breast and sides are pale greenish-yellow, the middle of 

 the breast dull blackish-blue, the abdomen whitish. The con- 

 cealed part of the plumage is blackish-blue. 



Length to end of tail 4| inches; extent of wings 7f ; wing 

 from flexure 2^ ; tail 2/g ; bill along the ridge /g, along the 

 edge of lower mandible i% ; tarsus -^^ ; first toe /g, its claw 

 ^^ ; second toe ^^|, its claw ^\ ; third toe ^^|, its claw ^^ ; 

 fourth toe i\, its claw j|. 



Female. — The female is a little smaller than the male, and 

 much less brightly coloured, the blue tints being tinged with 

 grey, the yellow of the lower parts fainter and less pure, and 

 the dark patch on the breast of less extent. 



Length to end of tail 4x'^^ inches ; extent of wings 7^ • 



Variations. — Individuals vary considerably as to size. Those 

 above described were " fine specimens," but those of somewhat 

 less dimensions are more frequent. The tints also vary in depth 

 and purity ; but I have not met with any " accidental" changes 

 of colour. 



Changes of Plumage. — In the end of autumn, as in the 

 other species, the plumage is complete and as described ; but 

 towards the period of moulting it fades, often in a very re- 

 markable manner. 



Habits. — About the middle of autumn, when the cares and 

 pleasures of rearing their young are over, the Blue Tits are 

 seen to approach the houses, and resort to the gardens and 

 orchards. Some of them, it is true, reside in such places all 

 summer ; but by much the greater number are then dispersed 

 among the woods and thickets. There it is, perched on a twig 

 of the apple-tree, not standing, for you rarely can see it sta- 



VOL. II. F F 



