1886-87.] The Paridce, or Titmice. 47 



we take into account the loving care that they bestow upon 

 their young broods. The great tit is no favourite with 

 apiarists, as, if all tales are true, it manages to destroy a good 

 many bees as they issue from the hive, by perching on the little 

 shelf outside the entrance-hole and dabbing the unsuspecting 

 insect as it emerges.^ The female is very like the male, but 

 hardly so bright in colour. 



It would be useless to take up time describing the plumage 

 of the various species, as the accompanying specimens speak for 

 themselves, so we will pass on to the next in order — viz., the 

 blue tit. This is the prettiest and at the same time the most 

 impudent of all the Paridce. It seems to be regardless of the 

 presence of human beings, and is not easily frightened, coming 

 close to houses, farmyards, and gardens at certain times of the 

 year, particularly autumn and winter. If a person remains still 

 in a wood where these tits are feeding, they will often alight on 

 trees within a few feet, and hammer away at the bark close to 

 your elbow, with as much nonchalance as if you were a hundred 

 miles distant. In general habits they resemble the great species, 

 but, if anything, utter their shrill notes oftener, and have a knack 

 of dropping down to the ground when least expected, in this 

 respect being very like the robin. When upon the nest they 

 show a marked reluctance to leave, and display even greater 

 intrepidity in defending their young than their larger relation. 

 They build in cavities of trees, rocks, or walls, and sometimes the 

 entrance is so small as to make one wonder how they get in or 

 out so readily. Many extraordinary breeding-sites are recorded, 

 such as inside bottles, old pipes, pumps, &c., for full descriptions 

 of which I would refer any curious upon the subject to well- 

 known works on ornithology, such as Yarrell, Morris, or Jardine. 

 A very good method of observing this bird's powers of clinging 

 and curious attitudes, is to hang an old bone with meat upon it 

 by a string to the branch of a tree, and in winter especially it 

 won't be very long ere the dainty morsel is discovered by one or 

 more tits, who, notwithstanding the swaying motion, manage to 

 retain their foothold and satiate their appetite at the same time. 

 The popular name of this beautiful bird in Scotland is " blue 

 bonnet," — an appellation that calls to the recollection of en- 

 thusiastic Scotsmen the " bonnets " of quite a different nature, 

 ' This is disputed, and apparently with some show of reason. 



