MARSH TITMOUSE. BLUE TITMOUSE. 3 1 



PARUS BRITANNICUS— British Coal Titmouse. 



[Panis ater — Yarrell?^ 

 Not common, but it is found locally distributed throughout 



the county. 



PARUS PALUSTRIS— Marsh Titmouse. 



This bird occurs occasionally in the valleys of the rivers Wye 

 and Lugg, notably at Letton and Backney Marsh. It is said to 

 be more common in the northern districts ot the county. The 

 Rev. Clement Ley has " generally observed this species to be 

 nearly as frequently met with at a distance from water as in its 

 vicinity." 



'' The double note of the Marsh Tit," says Air. Johns, " may 

 be compared to the syllable ' If he, If he,' rapidly uttered and 

 repeated in imitation of a sob." 



PARUS C.ERULEUS— Blue Titmouse. 



Least, nimblest, merriest bird of Albion's isle 

 I cannot look on thee without a smile. 



MONTCxOMERY. 



The familiar " Tom Tit " is very common throughout the 

 county. He is a lively amusing little bird, and does not deserve 

 the bad character he has got, with all the rest of his congeners, in 

 the garden. A price was fomerly set upon the heads of Tom Tits 

 by the churchwardens of the parish, and old parish accounts often 

 include payments made for their destruction. The Tits are all insect 

 feeders, and if a flock of them strip the buds from a fruit tree, say 

 their defenders, it is to get at the insects already there; thus they are 

 useful in their destructive habit, since probably there would not have 

 been fruit in any case, though it must be confessed that many buds 



