titmice- 



By H. J. FuivLJAMES. 



HAVE alwa3^s derived great pleasure, 

 when I have acquired one representative 

 of any individual species of birds, in 

 making my collection complete as re- 

 gards that particular family. In foreign 

 birds this object is in many cases unattainable, but 

 the task is not a difficult one in connection with 

 British birds, and I have invariably found reward in 

 witnessing the increased interest of my friends in 

 examining a complete representation of any particular 

 group, over that with which they would have regarded 

 isolated specimens. Among the families which I have 

 been able to complete is that of the Tits, and I have 

 been asked by our worthy Editor to write a few words 

 to accompany the illustration published in this current 

 number of the magazine. 



Perhaps no birds have been so mistakenly regarded 

 as the enemies of the farmer and fruit-grower than 

 those which are the subject of this article, and it was 

 at one time the practice in more than one parish to pay 

 head-money for "Tom-tits," which included of course 

 all species of Titmice. The birds representing this 

 species are nearly entirely insectivorous, and onl}^ eat 

 seeds and berries when live food is unobtainable be- 



