FASSERES. ( 97 ) PARID^. 



THE BLUE TITMOUSE. 



TOM-TIT, BLUE-CAP, BLUE-BONNET, HICK-MALL, BILLY-BITER, 

 OX-EYE, NUN, BLUE-MOPE. 



Parus cceruleus. 



Lithest, gaudiest harlequin ! 

 Prettiest tumbler ever seen. 

 Light of heart attd light of limb, 



What is now become of him f 



Where is he that giddy sprite f 

 Blue-Cap zvith all his feathers bright. 



Who was blest as bird could be ; 

 Feeding on the apple tree, 

 Made such wanton spoil and rout, 



Turning blossoms i?iside out ; 

 Hu7ig with head towards the ground. 

 Fluttered, perched into a roujid, 

 Bound himself, and then loibound. 



Wordsworth. 



This little bird is a great favourite with us on account 

 of its beauty and familiarity. It accompanies the Eobin 

 to our "window-sills during snowy weather in winter, to 

 share the crumbs and meat^ put out by kind hands for 

 the starving birds ; and we find it represented as the lover 



1 The Blue Titmouse is particularly fond of a bone or piece of suet to peck at 

 in severe weather, when these are hung out at a window. The attitudes of the 

 Tits, whilst feeding upon them, are most interesting and amusing. On 20th Jan. 

 1881, during the continuance of the great snow-storm, the only birds which 

 came to our windows to be fed were Sparrows, Hedge Sparrows, Robins, Chaf- 

 finches, and Blue Titmice. 



VOL. I. G 



