GREAT TIT. 191 
in their gambols and antics whether their heads or their heels 
are uppermost. This species, however, is less of a Harlequin, 
except in plumage, than some of its congeners. It is a bold 
and courageous bird, and bites vigorously if captured. In 
confinement it becomes tolerably tame; and even in its wild 
state will come to the window-sill for crumbs of bread. Other 
smailer birds frequent its vicinity without any apparent fear, 
notwithstanding its occasional destructive propensities, but it 
attacks them furiously if they advance against its nest. More 
than two or three of this species are seldom seen together, 
nor does it associate much with its generic relatives. One 
which Bewick kept, used to rest at night on the bottom of 
the cage. It is not at all a shy bird. 
The flight of the Oxeye is usually short—from tree to tree, 
performed by a repeated flutter of the wings; but if its travel 
be farther it is somewhat undulated. 
Its food consists principally of insects, small caterpillars hid 
in leaves, and seeds, which latter, if hard, it holds in its bill, 
and knocks against a tree till it breaks the shell—even hazel 
nuts it demolishes in this way. It also pulls off the moss 
from trees, to pry for the insects underneath, destroys bees 
at their hives, and makes havoc among the peas in a garden. 
It sometimes seeks its food on the ground, but for the most 
part in trees, where it exhibits much of the fantastic agility 
of its race. It may also be seen at times hanging under the 
eaves of a thatched cottage, from which it pulls out the straws 
it quest of concealed insects. I4 has also been known to eat 
smali birds, killmg them by repeated taps on the head; and 
shews the same carnivorous propensity in the readiness with 
which it will pick a bone, or make a meal of a carrion. 
The provincial name of this species, ‘the Oxeye,’ has in my 
‘opinion no reference to a derivation from the ‘glaucopis 
Athene,’ but has been given to it from its note, which, in 
the spring, resembles this word often repeated—a low and a 
high note in succession; and it has also, in addition to a 
chatter, another which resembles the word ‘twink.’ I know 
no bird whose voice, though monotonous, is more cheerful and 
exhilarating in connection with the returning spring. It begins 
its merry ‘oxeye, oxeye, oxeye’ about the beginning of March, 
and continues it till the middle of May. It has, however, 
says Mr. Thompson, been heard as early as the 23rd. and 
24th. of December, the Sth. of January, and the end of 
January; when, at the latter date, there was ice an inch thick 
