THE BLUE 'PITMOUSE 
PARUS C4:RULEUS 
LocaL names in surrounding counties: ‘‘ Pick-cheese,” 
“ Bluecap ”’ (Essex). 
Status tN British Avirauna: A common and widely 
distributed resident in all wooded districts, its numbers 
increased in autumn by migratory individuals. 
RapiaL DistrIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Pauu’s: This is the commonest and by far the best 
known of the Tits throughout the Metropolitan area. It 
may be met with from time to time almost anywhere, 
provided there are a few trees to afford it shelter. So 
grimy does the little bird become in exploring the soot- 
covered trees that one is often puzzled for a moment to 
recognise it, its delicate contrasts of blue and yellow being 
concealed by the dirt of the great city. It probably 
breeds from St. James’s Park outwards to the limits of 
our radius, including almost every urban park in the 
Metropolis. In winter there are few private grounds or 
houses with trees about them that the Blue ‘Titmouse does 
not visit, and its cheery notes may often be heard from 
the trees that fringe suburban roads, or even the ‘Thames 
embankments. It is possible that some of these little 
wanderers may be migrants, for the species is particularly 
in evidence in autumn, when the countryside 1s swarming 
with family parties not only from our own woodlands, 
but from across the seas, whither they come in company 
with Goldcrests and the following species. 
Next to the Sparrow and the Starling the Blue Titmouse 
is one of the most familiar of London’s birds. Although 
it seems to go into an eclipse, as it were, during the 
breeding season, keeping silent and seclusive, during the 
remainder of the year it is in more or less constant evi- 
dence. Never is it more so than in autumn, when crowds 
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