36 BIRDS OF LANCASHIRE. 



increased everywhere by migrants. Byerley says that it 

 breeds near Liverpool, and is not uncommon in the 

 winter time, flying generally in families of from eight 

 to twenty. On the eastern side of the county, where 

 timber is scarce, it is rarely seen except on migration, 

 but in many wooded districts it breeds in some numbers, 

 being most common perhaps in the valleys drained by 

 the Eibble and Wyre. Its beautiful nest is generally 

 fixed in high hedges, often very close to footpaths, and 

 not seldom on the lower branches of trees, placed in 

 some recess, and covered all over with lichen. In 

 several instances I have seen the nest, on branches of 

 trees overhanging the river Hodder and growing out of 

 its steep banks, 50 feet above the level of the stream. 

 This Titmouse is an early breeder, and lays its ten or 

 eleven eggs the first two weeks of April. 



GENUS PARUS. 



GEEAT TITMOUSE. 



Parus major, Linnaeus. 



Local Names — Ox-ci/c, Ox-eye Tit, Tom-tit, No2')e, 

 Tommy-nope, Billy Biter, Black-cap. 



Eesident and plentiful both in summer and winter. 

 This and the three following species have very much in 

 common in their habits ; all of them breeding in holes 

 of trees, and all boring a hole for themselves, a perfect 

 circle, if a suitable natural one be not ready to hand. 

 Their call-note too is the same. The Great Tit also 

 breeds in old walls, and when it leaves the nest usually 

 covers the eggs with pieces of wool. When on the nest, 



