io6 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Site of Nest. — Dead tree stumps, holes in walls, etc. 



Materials Used. — Similar to Blue Tit. 



Eggs. — Six to Nine. Very similar to those of the Blue Tit. 



Food. — Same as last named. 



Voice. — Call, a shrill " che-chee, che-chee," and two clear-sounding 



notes like " if-hee, if-hce, if-hee." 

 Chief Features. — The sober plumage, black head (hence Coal Tit), 



white cheeks, and nape. Not so often seen as the Blue Tit. 

 Plumage. — Black on crown, throat, and front of neck; pure-white 



cheeks and nape; grey above; bluish-grey wings, with two 



white bands; white underneath, with a grey tinge. Length. — 



Four and a quarter inches. 



TIT, CRESTED (Pants cristatus) 



Local Names. — None seem to be recorded. 



Haunt. — Pine forests of Scotland. 



Nesting Period. — April onwards. 



Site of Nest. — Same as Coal Tit, and also in a Squirrel's drey or the 

 disused nest of a Crow. 



Materials Used. — Moss, grass, hair, fur, wool, and feathers. 



Eggs. — Five or Six. White, spotted and speckled with brownish-red. 



Food. — Insects and their larvae, and probably buds and small seeds. 



Voice. — Call, "seet, seet, seet," and a continuous "si, si, si," or 

 " si, si, si, — ptur, re, re, re, ree." 



Chief Features. — The rarest British Tit; a handsome little species, 

 with a high, pointed crest, hence its English name. 



Plumage. — Feathers of crown elongated, and forming when erected 

 a pointed crest, black, edged with white ; cheeks and neck sides 

 white; throat, collar, and a streak across temples black; all 

 other parts reddish-brown; lower parts white, faintly tinged 

 with red. Length. — Four inches and three-quarters. 



TIT, GREAT (Parus major) 



Local Names. — Bee-Biter, Black Bluebonnet, Blackcap, Black- 

 Headed Tomtit, Charbonniere, Great Black-Headed Tomtit, 

 Heckymal, Joe Bent, Oxeye, Pick-Cheese, Pridden Pal, Saw 

 Sharpener, Sit-ye-down, Tom Collier, Tomtit. 



Haunt. — Woods, copses, groves, parks, and gardens. 



Nesting Period. — April to June. 



Site of Nest. — Similar to Blue Tit. 



Materials Used. — See Blue Tit. 



Eggs. — Six to Twelve. White, spotted with light brown. 



Food. — Small insects, buds, seeds, and fruit. 



