1903 Our Common Wild Birds 229 



field. The most eleganl of British birds' nests is made by 

 this bird. It is oven-shaped, with a tiny hole near the top, 

 is made of moss covered all over with lichens, and a verit- 

 able feather-bed inside. 



The Great Titmouse (P. Major) is as common as nearly 

 all the others, and much larger^ being almost equal to a 

 sparrow in size. We may hear it almost any day in woods, 

 parks, or gardens, calling in a sharp metallic voice, " ping- 

 chur, ping-chur, ping-chur." It is a handsome and familiar 

 bird, with black head and throat, and a broad black band 

 running down the breast and under parts. These black 

 markings are also made more conspicuous by the contrast 

 of the bird's white cheeks. Its back is yellowish olive. Less 

 active in its movements than the smaller titmice, it is 

 nevertheless a very busy bird. 



Having perhaps dealt with a sufficient number of 

 species for one paper, in which attention has only been 

 given to the smaller common birds of our country, the 

 larger species will be treated in a future article. 



One weak point in these notes will probably be ob- 

 served. Little or no attention has been given to a descrip- 

 tion of the difference in plumage between the male and 

 female in those cases where the sexes are not alike. As, 

 however, the female plumage is usually but a modification 

 of that of the male, in a paper intended to be as elementary 

 as possible it has perhaps been wise to leave the lady birds 

 alone. 



(To be continued?) 



Our Present Knowledge of British Insects. 



I!y Claude Morley, F.E.S., Etc. 



I\ the November (1902) number of this Magazine I 

 superficially summarised the six great Orders into which 

 insects are primarily divided by modern entomologists, 

 with a view to assisting the tyro in an arrangement of 

 such heterogeneous material as he might be expected to 

 have accumulated. It may be interesting here to pay 



