BLUE TIT. 437 



low trees near our garden. They frequently opened and shut 

 their win^s like the Hedsje Chanter. When saunterins alone 

 through the pathless copse, where the loveliest flowers are 

 spread around, and no sounds are heard save the hum of insects 

 or the murmur of the brook, the wanderer is apt to indulge in 

 solemn thoughts and sylvan dreams ; but the joyous chir-r-r of 

 the Blue Tit recalls his scattered thoughts, and he beholds with 

 admiration its singular and often graceful postures, as it examines 

 the very extremities of the smallest twigs. It has just finished its 

 survey of the upper bark of that branch of the old moss-clad 

 oak, and now poising itself on the very edge it examines the 

 lower surface, when perceiving a likely crevice, it utters a cry 

 of joy, springs into it, and instantly begins its attack. Now 

 with great labour it has disengaged a piece of rotten wood, and 

 tries to separate the larvce from it ; but finding the cavity too 

 small for this purpose, mounts aloft, fixes the piece of wood 

 between its claws, and pecks until its efiorts are crowned with 

 success. With a joyous cry it again descends, and continues 

 picking out the larvae, which are now exposed, until, satisfied 

 that none remain, it bounds off to rejoin its companions. 

 When the ground is covered with snow, the Blue Tits flock to 

 our garden and stack-yard. In the former, the fruit trees and 

 the crannies in the fruit-wall attract their attention ; and in 

 the latter they cling to the thatch and sides of stacks. Even in 

 open weather, I have observed this bird examining the horso 

 droppings on the road. Several years ago I saw it descend 

 on the pieces of beef and mutton exposed at the door of a 

 butcher's shop in Haddington. On the 8th of May (1838) I 

 observed a pair building in a pollard ash in one of our fields. 

 When the young are abroad, they even frequent our closely 

 switched hedges, but their favourite haunts are thickets, copses, 

 tall hedge-rows, gardens, and woods." 



The Blue Tit, with the Coal Tit, the Greater Tit, and the 

 Gold-crest, are among the few birds that in winter may be 

 found traversing in bands the woods and copses, as well as the 

 patches of juniper, furze, or broom, of the wildest parts of the 

 hilly regions of the country. It is generally dispersed, per- 

 manently resident, and very abundant in most districts. 



