io8 

 GREAT TITMOUSE. 



Parus major {£.). 



Resident ; commonly distributed. Autumn migrant, sometimes 

 in considerable numbers. 



The earliest published Yorkshire reference to the Great 

 Tit is contained in Graves's " Cleveland," 1808, where it is 

 enumerated in the list of resident birds. 



Thomas Allis wrote in 1844 : — 



Parus major. — Great Titmouse — Common in most districts. 



Second in numbers only to the Blue Tit, this species is 

 one of the most abundant and familiar inhabitants of the 

 woods and gardens ; except in the bleak moorland districts 

 it is found in every locality affording the requirements for 

 its existence, and, consequently, does not require further 

 notice as to its distribution. 



As a migrant, however, it deserves more attention, for 

 in the autumn there is occasionally a considerable arrival 

 on the east coast, and this was noticeably the case during 

 the latter part of October in 1878, at which time most 

 unusual numbers appeared, and it was very abundant after 

 a severe storm on October the 30th, in company with Blue 

 Tits and Wrens, both at Spurn and Teesmouth, this movement 

 corresponding with a similar migration at Heligoland ; a 

 distinct increase on the coast line was observable also in 1883, 

 1884, 1886, and 1889. In the Migration Reports there is 

 only one entry relating to its appearance at the light stations, 

 viz. : — 1886, November ist, " Spurn, P. major, very common " 

 (p. 32). At Redcar I have often seen these little birds newly 

 arrived ; a large flight occurred in September 1889, and 

 another on 14th September 1901, though not in such numbers 

 as in 1878. At Spurn they are frequently noted in autumn, 

 usually in mid-September and October, and the birds seen 

 then are cleaner and brighter looking than residents ; both 

 this and the Blue Tit have been known to alight on vessels 

 in the North Sea during migration. 



This species is insectivorous and a well-known enemy of 



