124 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
band runs from the throat down the centre of the f 
breast to the belly; under tail-coverts white; legs, — 
toes and claws lead-colour. In its nestling plumage 
the Great Tit has the cheeks pale yellow, and the 
black parts are dull and clouded. 
The egg of the Great Tit has a white ground, 
spotted all over with a sort of brick-dust red. 
Buve Trt, Parus ceruleus. This beautiful, though 
rather mischievous little bird,—the most numerous 
of any of the Tits,—is resident with us throughout 
the year. In manners and habits it resembles the 
rest of its congeners, climbing about the small 
branches of trees and shrubs, looking out for in- 
sects and buds, almost always in company with the 
other Tits, and generally in the winter to be found 
also in company with the Lesser Redpole and 
Siskin, all of them climbing about together in 
search of food, with the greatest activity assuming 
positions hitherto unthought of by the best of bird- 
stuffers or greatest of acrobats. 
The food of the Blue Tit consists principally of 
insects, buds and seeds; occasionally also, especially 
in the winter, it will pluck grain from ricks. Both 
Montagu and Yarrell add that it is very fond of 
flesh, and is a constant visitor to any place where 
horse-flesh is hung up for feeding dogs: I have not 
myself observed this partiality. 
The nest of the Blue Tit is usually placed in a 
hole in a wall or tree, or In some crevice in wooden 
