BLUE TIT. 55 



common. A knowing, restless little fellow is the 

 Tomtit, and very useful, for he destroys an immense 

 number of grubs, but, sad to relate, he destroys a great 

 many of the spring buds too in opening them to search 

 for his favourite food. Just watch him as he flits 

 around, clinging to some twig and peeping into the bud 

 for a grub ; having secured it, he hops off as quickly as 



possible to another, and is constantly on the go — never 

 still, destroying hundreds of grubs and caterpillars in a 

 single day. But these are not his only food ; indeed, 

 he will eat anything, and amongst other things is very 

 fond of flesh, and will pick a bone quite clean. 



The Blue Tit may be recognised at once by the blue 

 colour on the top of his head, which is surrounded by 

 2( white band ; the cheeks are white bordered with a 



