426 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



Remarks. Resident. Note : a peculiar twe-twe. 

 Local and other names : Tomtit, Blue Tomtit, 

 Billy Biter or Willow Biter, Blue Bonnet, Blue Cap, 

 Blue Mope, Hickwall, Nun, Titmal. A close sitter, 

 hissing like a snake when disturbed. 



TIT, COAL. 



(Partis britannicus.} 

 Order PASSERES ; Family PARID^E (TITMICE). 



Description of Parent Birds. 

 Length about four and a half 

 inches. Bill short, straight, 

 pointed, and black. Irides hazel. 

 Head, neck, and upper part of 

 breast black ; cheeks and nape 

 white. Back, wing-coverts, rump, 

 and tail greyish-blue, with a 

 bufhsh tinge on the rump. 

 Wing-quills brownish-grey, bor- 

 dered with green. Lower breast 

 dull white ; belly, flanks, vent, 

 and under tail-coverts fawn colour, slightly tinged 

 with green. Legs, toes, and claws black. 



The female closely resembles the male. This 

 bird is easily distinguished from the Marsh Tit by 

 means of the white patch on the back of its head 

 and neck. 



Situation and Locality. In holes, from three or 

 four to sixteen or eighteen inches deep, in trees, 

 walls, and banks ; those in the last-named situa- 

 tions having originally belonged to rats, mice, or 

 moles. The bird will, however, enlarge any selected 

 hole for its accommodation, if necessary. It may 



