24 THE BIRDS OF BERKS AND BUCKS. 



of its insect food, at another grasping a branch with 

 its long hooked claws, and swinging to and fro in 

 mid-air. It is a hardy and courageous bird, and 

 many a peck have I received from its little bill when 

 holding one of them captive in my hand. 



Blue Tit {jPanis cceruleus). Local names. Blue 

 Titmouse, Blue-cap, Tom-tit. An extremely common 

 species, impudent, bold, and pugnacious. The nest 

 of the Blue Tit is not an easy one to discover, secreted 

 as it generally is in the hole of a tree or crumbled 

 wall ; and if you should happen to find the old bird 

 sitting on her eggs, beware how you introduce your 

 fingers, for she will ruffle up her feathers, hiss in an 

 alarmed manner, and will peck lustily at your hand, 

 which, she knows w^ell enough, is inserted to take 

 herself or her eggs. 



As an instance of this bird's quarrelsome and hos- 

 tile disposition, the following scene, which was wit- 

 nessed by the Rev. Charles WoUey, of Eton College, 

 may be quoted : — One day, in i860, while taking a 

 walk by Ditton Park, he saw a Blue Tit fly out 

 from a hedge, and attack an unfortunate Hedge 

 Sparrow which was crossing the road. Like a hawk, 

 the Tit flew at the enemy, and succeeded in striking 

 several feathers from the latter's back. 



Cole Tit {Parus ater) This species, although not 

 so numerous as the Greater, Blue, or Long-tailed 

 Tits, is nevertheless widely dispersed in both coun- 

 ties. It is a lively bird, and seems to be always in 



