I04 GREAT TITMOUSE. 



The nest is often commenced in March, though usually in April ; 

 a hole in a tree or wall being commonly selected ; but many curious 

 situations are on record, such as the inside of a pump in constant 

 use, a letter-box, a shelf in a three-cornered cupboard, or the 

 interior of an inverted flower-pot ; one of such, in the British 

 Museum, containing three new nests ! Sometimes the foundations 

 of old abodes of other birds, as Crows, Rooks and Magpies, or 

 squirrels' dreys, are utilized (but more frequently on the Con- 

 tinent than in this country). The structure consists of soft moss, 

 surmounted by a warm bed of hair, fur, wool and feathers. The 

 6 and even 12 eggs are white, spotted and blotched with light 

 red: measurements, 7 by '55 in. Two broods are produced in the 

 season. The Great Titmouse may often be seen roving from tree 

 to tree in our gardens and sheltered districts ; sometimes hanging 

 by its strong claws with its back downwards, while searching for 

 insects, its principal food. No doubt the bird destroys buds ; but 

 in many cases these already contain grubs which would not only 

 put a stop to the growth of the sprouts, but would inflict further 

 damage upon the trees. It is fond of peas, while in the autumn 

 and winter it cracks and eats nuts and hard seeds, but on the 

 whole its predilections are decidedly for ' animal ' food. In cold 

 weather the lover of birds may enjoy watching the actions of this 

 species and its kin, by suspending a piece of raw meat, a bone, or a 

 lump of suet, from some bough or iron standard outside the 

 windows. The Great Titmouse will attack small and weakly birds, 

 splitting their skulls with its powerful beak in order to get at their 

 brains ; and it has even been known to serve a Bat in this manner. 

 Its usual note in spring resembles the sound produced by sharpening 

 a saw with a file, and may be heard at a considerable distance ; its 

 call-note is a low zee ; and some individuals display great power of 

 imitating other birds. 



Adult male : crown, nape, and throat bluish-black ; cheeks white ; 

 on the nape a small spot of whitish, which reaches the yellowish- 

 olive of the mantle ; wing-coverts bluish-grey, with white tips which 

 form a bar ; quills dark brown with paler margins ; tail-feathers slate- 

 grey, the outer pair tipped and margined with white ; a black stripe 

 from the throat to the vent ; sides and flanks dull sulphur-yellow ; 

 bill black ; legs and feet lead-coloured. Length 575 in.; wing to 

 the tip of 4th and longest primary 2 "85 in. The female is duller 

 in colour than the male ; the young bird has a tinge of yellow on 

 the cheeks. 



