I03 



THE GREAT TITMOUSE. 



Parus major, Linngeus. 



This species, often called the Ox-eye, is resident and generally 

 distributed in suitable localities throughout England and Wales, 

 Ireland, and the greater part of Scotland ; but in the northern and 

 western portions of the latter it becomes uncommon ; being only a 

 rare visitant to the Isle of Skye, Sutherland, the Orkneys, and, 

 perhaps, the Shetlands. 



In the comparatively mild climate of Norway the Great Titmouse 

 is found as far north as the Arctic circle ; but in Russia it has not 

 been recorded beyond lat. 64° N., while in the valley of the Yenesei 

 Seebohm did not find it above 58° N. Eastward it is met with in 

 the wooded districts of Siberia as far as Transbaikalia. In Mongolia, 

 China and Japan, its representative is P. minor : slightly smaller, 

 with the under parts buffish-white instead of yellow. Our species is 

 common over the whole of Europe ; being migratory in the more 

 northern countries, but resident in the temperate and southern, 

 down to the Mediterranean. In most of the islands of that sea it 

 is also found, though seldom in Malta ; it occurs in the Canaries, 

 is resident throughout a great part of North Africa, and abounds in 

 Asia Minor, Palestine and Persia. 



