BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 297 



are its large size, the noticeable white cheek-patch com- 

 pletely surrounded by black, and the black stripe down 

 the centre of the breast and under-parts. The first-named 

 characteristic gives the species its real name, the second its 

 popular title ' Ox-Eye.' In this, as in all the Tits we have 

 to deal with, there is no very noteworthy difference in 

 plumage with age, sex, or season. The most noticeable call 

 is that heard in the spring, a monotonous alternation of two 

 notes, sounding like slow filing. In addition to its diet 

 of insects and an occasional tiny and feeble bird, the 

 Great Tit eats peas and nuts in their season, and in 

 winter will peck a piece of meat or a bone hung on a 

 string. During the process the power which the birds of 

 this genus have of perching in all sorts of positions 

 may be observed to advantage, for the Tits, although 

 always restless, show little shyness. 



The Great Tit is an early nester, often beginning by 

 the end of March. A hole in a tree or wall may be 

 considered as the normal site, but all sorts of absurd 

 situations — letter-boxes, flower-pots, and what not — are 

 constantly recorded. The foundations of Crows' nests are 

 also used at times. The nest is chiefly of moss, but 

 thickly lined with hair, feathers, and the like. The eggs 

 may be a dozen in number, and are white, with light- 

 red specks. Both parents are very diligent in feeding 

 their numerous progeny, and two broods are reared before 

 the summer is over. 



It has recently been noticed that the eggs of this and 

 other Tits are often covered with rabbit's fur or other 

 material in the intervals of laying. Similar habits are 

 common among birds, but it is difficult to see what end is 

 served in this case. 



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