THE PASSERINE BIRDS 115 



FAMILY PARIDjE {Titmice) 



Whether the Titmice are related to the Shrikes or not is a moot 

 point, and need not concern us here. They are all small birds, 

 and of rather a pugnacious disposition. 



Of the several species which are to be met with in Great Britain, 

 the little Blue Tit (Plate XXVI. fig. 9) is the most familiar, visiting 

 even London gardens, where it may be easily induced to become a 

 frequent visitor by a small piece of fat tied to a string. It is a courage- 

 ous little bird, especially during the time that it is sitting on its eggs. 

 Selecting a hole in some tree-trunk or wall, intruding fingers of would- 

 be egg-stealers are often hastily withdrawn in consequence of an 

 ominous hissing noise, mistaken, as it was intended to be, for the 

 warning note of a snake ! This bird may readily be bribed to take 

 up a residence in any desired spot by means of nesting-boxes hung 

 in convenient situations. 



The Great Tit (Plate XXVI. fig. 10) is a larger bird than the 

 Blue Tit, but similar in appearance. It may readily be distinguished, 

 however, by the broad black stripe which runs down the middle of 

 the breast. This bird attacks smaller birds, beating out their brains 

 with its powerful beak. 



The Coal-tit and the Crested Tit (Plate XXVI. figs. 7, 8) re- 

 quire to be carefully sought, being of a shy and retiring disposition. 

 While the Coal-tit may be met with in the less populated districts 

 throughout Great Britain, the same is not true of the Crested Tit, 

 which is rarely met with save in Scotland. 



The Titmice are mainly insect-feeders, though ripe pears and 

 apples prove an irresistible attraction for the Blue Tit, which is, 

 therefore, much disliked by fruit-growers. In spite of these depreda- 

 tions, however, it is a most useful bird. 



The Long-tailed Tit (Plate XXVI. fig. 6) is the smallest of the 

 Titmice, and is really a very handsome little bird. In the art of 

 nest-building it is one of the most skilful, the outside thereof being 

 cunningly decorated with small pieces of lichen ; and this covering 

 harmonises so perfectly with the surroundings of the nest as to tax the 

 skill of the most expert nest-hunter to find. Oval in shape, it is entered 

 by a small hole near the top, while inside it is lined with feathers. 



