BLUE TIT. 



PASSERES. 



483 



PARID.K. 



Parus c^ruleus, Linnaeus*. 

 THE BLUE TITMOUSE. 



Parus caruleus. 



The Blue Titmouse, like the species last described, is 

 generally distributed in this country, and being very com- 

 mon its beauty and sprightliness are on that account not so 

 highly appreciated as they deserve. It frequents woods, 

 hedgerows, orchards and gardens, often entering our towns, 

 and remains with us throughout the year. There are few 

 birds which are commonly believed to do more harm than 

 this, and by nearly all gardeners it is regarded as one of their 

 worst foes. They see it busily at work on a fruit-tree — bud 

 after bud coming under its scrutiny, while the protective 

 covering of each drops on the ground and shews the destruc- 

 tion done. Content with such imperfect evidence, they go 

 their way vowing vengeance on the Bluecap, and when 

 they get the chance are mostly as good as their word. 

 * Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 341 (1766). 



