158 
PAPERS, ETC. 
attention ; it is composed of the softest moss, securely 
woven among the pendant leaves of the fir, and snugly 
lined with feathers. In this are deposited from six 
to ten eggs, 6 lines in length by 5 lines in breadth, of 
a pale flesh colour, or white spotted faintly with pale 
red. 
PARIDAE. PARUS. 
31.—Parus major.— Great Titmouse. 
Builds in holes. Eggs 94 lines long, by 7 lines broad, 
white speckled with red. 
32.—P. c&ruleus.— Blue Tit. 
This bird has obtained the sobriquet of Billy biter among 
bird-nesting boys, from his determined valourin defend- 
ing his habitation against intrusion ; perhaps the nu- 
merous progeny he has to defend may have something 
to do with this; at all events from ten to fifteen 
eggs, far exceeding in bulk the parent bird, must 
necessarily require the greatest attention; the eggs 
are white spotted with red, in size 73 lines in length, 
by 6 lines in breadth. 
33.—P. ater.— Cole Tit. 
The hole chosen by this bird is in general situated at the 
roots of a tree, in which are deposited from six to 
eight white eggs, speckled with pale red, slightly 
smaller than those of the blue tit. 
34.—P. caudatus. — Longtailed Tit. 
The nest of this bird is perfect in its kind, it is a complete 
oval, finished off smoothly, and in the most regular 
manner, and there is a small hole in the side by which 
access is obtained to the chamber within, the out- 
side being studded all over with silvery lichens ; but 
all this beauty is concealed by its being placed in the 
