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 

 smaller 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 Bemck 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 imderneath, 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. It has also been known to eat 

 small birds, kilhng 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 Maj^ It has, however, 

 says Mr. Thompson, been heard as early as the 23rd. and 

 24th. of December, the 5th. of January, and the end of 

 January; when, at the latter date, there was ice an inch thick 



