38 THE GREAT TIT, OX-EYE, OR TOMTIT 
birds of the same family. It is, however, great-hearted, as far 
as boldness and bravery entitle it to this epithet, being ready 
to give battle to birds far its superiors in size, foremost to join 
in mobbing an intrusive Owl, and prepared to defend its nest 
against robbers of all kinds. Its powers of locomotion are consi- 
derable, as it is strong in flight, active on the ground, and as a 
climber is surpassed by few rivals. Its stout and much-curved 
hind claw gives it great facility in clinging to the twigs and branches 
of trees, sides of ricks, and even the walls of houses. Such situations 
it resorts to in quest of its favourite food, caterpillars and pupe 
of all kinds, and it is most amusing to watch it while thus en- 
gaged. Attitude seems to be a matter of no consequence; it 
can cling with perfect security to anything but a smooth surface. 
On trees it hangs from the branches, with its back either down- 
wards, or turned sideways, and explores crevices in walls with 
as little regard to the vertical position of the surface to which it 
clings, as if it were examining a hole in the level ground. Its 
efforts to disengage a chrysalis from its cocoon are very enter- 
taining. One scarcely knows which most to admire, the tenacity 
of its grasp, the activity with which it turns its head and body, or 
the earnestness and determination with which it clears away every 
obstacle until it has secured the prize. It does not, however, 
limit its food to insects ; it is accused of feeding occasionally on the 
buds of fruit-trees, but it is doubtful whether the bird has any other 
object in attacking these, than that of hunting out the insects that in- 
fest them. It is said also to be very fond of nuts, which it sticks into 
crevices in the bark of trees, and cracks by repeated blows of its 
beak. Whether it has this power, I do not know ; but that it will 
eat nuts of every kind, it is easy to prove by fastening the kernels 
of filberts or walnuts to the trunks of trees by means of stout pins. 
Tits, great and little, and Nuthatches, if there be any in the neigh- 
bourhood, will soon discover them, and if once attracted may thus 
be induced to pay daily visits to so productive a garden. A Great 
Tit of unusual intelligence, which frequents my garden at the 
present time, has been frequently observed to draw up by its claws 
a walnut suspended by a string from the bough of an apple-tree, 
and to rifle its contents, being itself all the while leisurely perched 
on the twig, and keeping the nut firm by a dexterous use of its 
claws, A charge, amounting to a grave accusation against the 
Great Tit, and one which cannot be palliated by the plea that he 
has accomplices, is, that when driven by hunger and he has the 
opportunity, he attacks other small and weakly birds, splits their 
skulls by means of his strong, sharp beak, and picks out their 
brains. One story in particular I find, of a Great Tit having been 
placed in a well-filled aviary. In the course of a single night, he 
had killed every one of his companions, with the exception of a 
Quail, and when he was discovered, he was in the very act of dealing 
