THE GREAT TITMOUSE 
At these seasons the Great Tit may be seen or heard in 
gardens, in trees by the wayside, even in busy streets, 
especially such as may be in the vicinity of the parks. 
During the breeding season, however, the bird retires to 
more suitable haunts, and also does not betray its where- 
abouts to any great extent by its characteristic notes. 
The habits of all the ‘Tits are very similar; the birds 
spend most of their waking moments amongst the 
branches in quest of food, restlessly hopping hither and 
thither, placing themselves in every possible attitude, 
some grotesque in the extreme, and from time to time 
trooping off one after the other in dipping flight. Of all 
the British species perhaps the Great ‘Tit is the wariest, 
and it confines itself more to the larger trees than its con- 
geners. It lacks the audacity of its ally the Blue Tit, and 
seldom or never evinces such trustfulness in man. Some- 
times, however, it visits the ground to search for food, and 
frequently clings to the bark, hammering with its stout 
bill to get at some tempting morsel. Insects and larve 
and small seeds and fruits form the principal food of 
this ‘Titmouse, but exceptionally a small bird is killed 
after the manner of the Shrike. ‘The bird is not much of 
a songster, but in early spring the males string a few 
notes together into the semblance of a love-trill, and at this 
season especially its shrill call of peek-ur, peck- ur, 1S very 
characteristic. Besides these it often utters a meee S1- 
st-5t or a spluttering and prolonged chur. ‘The Great Tit 
pairs for life, and preparations are made for its first brood 
in April; in June for a later one. It makes two distinct 
types of nest, according to the situation in which each 
is placed. One is globular, almost like that of the Wren, 
and made in the old nest of a Crow or a Magpie,or amongst 
the sticks of that of a Rook, even whilst it is occupied ; 
the other is open and placed in a hole of a wall, a tree, a 
pump, post, flower-pot, or even in the ground. The 
materials are moss, dead leaves, dry grass, hair, wool, and 
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