PASSERES, ( 93 ) PARIDM. 



THE COLE TITMOUSE. 



COLE-TIT, COLEMOUSE. 



Parus ater. 



The floivery glory of the year hasfied 



To other climes, with many a bird, whose sofig 

 Made jubilant the Earth all Si/mrner long ; 



And Nature motirns as mother for her dead. 



Walter Chisholm, November. 



It is chiefly in the autumn and winter months that the 

 movements of flocks of Titmice and Golden- Crested Wrens 

 in our woods and plantations attract attention ; for then the 

 deciduous trees are bare, and the little birds can be more 

 easily seen as they flit from tree to tree. Amongst these 

 diminutive rovers the Cole Titmouse may generally be 

 observed moving rapidly, and eagerly searching the branches 

 and twigs for insect food. The pine woods and strips are, 

 however, its favourite resort, and it may be found in them 

 at every period of the year.^ Its call-note, " If-hee, if-hee, 

 if-hee," is generally heard proceeding from the top of 

 some tall Scotch fir before the little creature can be dis- 

 covered busily occupied amongst the bushy branches. It 

 is said to feed partly on the seeds of the fir " top " or 

 cone. 



1 The Cole Titmouse is a partial migrant like the other kinds of Titmice, and 

 it helps to make up the flocks of these hirds which are seen passing the liglit- 

 houses on the coasts of England and Scotland on migration in spring and autumn. 

 — See Reports on the Migration of Birds, 1879-86. 



