140 



suggests, it is the largest of the Tits, aud its bright 

 colour, and the fact that, although very sprightly, 

 it is not so quick in its movements as the Blue Tit, 

 render it more easil}^ observable and more generally 

 known than its congener. It is not b}^ an}' means a 

 gregarious bird, and in this respect it differs very 

 considerably from all the other members of the famil}', 

 all of which, with this exception, seem to rejoice in 

 the companionship of their own species, especiall}' in 

 the autumn and winter. Like all the Tits, the Ox-eye 

 is a strictl}^ resident bird with us, and it is common 

 in most European countries. It is not so wholly 

 insectivorous as the Blue Tit, and in captivity will eat 

 freely of hemp and sunflower seed, which it will hold 

 between its two feet and hammer at with its par- 

 ticularl}' sharp beak until it reaches the kernel. Nuts 

 of any kind it is also partial to, but these should of 

 course be cracked for it. This bird should never be 

 kept in a cage or aviary in companionship with other 

 birds. Among ni}^ experienced avicultural friends I 

 have some who deny that the Great Tit is dangerous 

 to other birds, but I have certainl}^ proved him to be 

 a murderer of the deepest dye, and I would never 

 keep one except in a separate cage. There may be 

 some truth in the theory held by many that the Great 

 Tit only attacks sickly birds which would soon die 

 without his help : but even if this be so, I still prefer 

 to exercise my own option of mercifully killing, or 

 setting at liberty, an ailing bird, rather than leave the 

 matter to the discretion of an Ox-eye Tit. 



The Cole Tit (Paras ater^ is another very 

 generally distributed bird throughout Great Britain 

 and Ireland. In Scotland it is, I believe, more 

 frequent than either the Blue Tit or the Great Tit. 

 It is a most charming little bird, but lacks the bright 

 colouring of the two first-mentioned. In size it is 

 even less than the Blue Tit, and there is little chance 



