BLUE TITMOUSE. 485 



table food, remarks that this bird is " savagely slaughtered" 

 in the very act of saving the buds by means which man with 

 all his power could not employ. Mr. Stevenson also justly 

 observes of the hatred to the bird shewn by gardeners that 

 "even the most obstinate of that opinionated race need but 

 dissect the next victim of his folly to know that he has killed 

 a friend." Finally Mr. Bond has supplied Messrs. Sharpe 

 and Dresser with the results of his experience to the effect 

 that this Titmouse feeds its young very much with the small 

 larvae of the gooseberry-moth — that well-known ravager 

 of gardens, to say nothing of Ajjhides and other insects, 

 while it also preys on the grubs of the wood-boring beetles, 

 including Scolytus destructor — the worst foe of the elm, and 

 on maggots from the round galls so common on young oaks. 



Insects, in their various stages, and of many different 

 kinds, thus are the principal food of the Bluecap throughout 

 the year, and though it has been often credited with eating 

 corn, small seeds* and other vegetable matter, especially in 

 winter, the assertions that it does so seem to be rather founded 

 on exceptional instances, if they do not rest on imperfect 

 observation. But flesh or fat is very attractive to it, and it is 

 a constant visitor to the carrion hung up near dog-kennels. 

 When searching for food, which is its almost incessant occu- 

 pation, it is far from shy, while from its restless inquisitive- 

 ness, the grotesque postures it assumes, and its cheerful calls, 

 there are few birds which are more amusing to watch. Its 

 notes vary much with the season of the year, and those 

 uttered by the cock in spring must be deemed a song, though 

 its best vocal efforts possess but little melody. 



The Blue Titmouse generally builds in a hole in a Avail or 

 a tree, almost always shewing a preference for one with a very 

 narrow opening : the nest is much like that of the last 

 species, but feathers are more commonly and largely used, 

 and the felted mass of hairs is sometimes almost wanting. 



* The allied species no doubt eat some seeds and are especially fond of those 

 of the sun-flower, but Mr. Blyth says (Field Nat. i. p. 269) that he has never 

 known this bird touch them, or in confinement eat the seeds commonly given 

 to case -birds. 



