BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



431 



blotched, and speckled with red of various shades ; 

 the spots are generally most numerous round the 

 larger end. A sight of the parent birds and locality 

 of the nest are the only safe means of identifi- 

 cation. Size about .65 by .51 in. (See Plate III.) 



Time. April, May, and June. 



Remarks. Resident and very local. Notes : si, 

 si, si, followed by a spluttering note like ptur, re, 

 re, re, ree. Local and other names : Crested Tit- 

 mouse. Sits closely. 



TIT, GREAT. 



(Partis major.} 

 Order PASSERES ; Family PARIM: (TITMICE). 



Description of Parent 

 Birds. Length about five 

 and three-quarter inches ; 

 bill of medium length, 

 nearly straight, and black. 

 Irides dusky. Head black ; 

 cheeks white ; nape green- 

 ish-yellow, surrounding a 

 whitish spot ; back olive- 

 green ; rump bluish-grey ; 

 wing - coverts bluish, the 

 larger being tipped with white ; quills dusky, edged 

 with light greenish-blue ; tail quills dusky, the outer 

 feathers on each side being edged with white ; breast 

 and belly yellow, tinged with green and divided longi- 

 tudinally by a broad black stripe, which commences 

 at the chin and, passing down the throat, is joined 

 by the black on the sides of the neck, and extends 

 to the vent, which is white on either side ; lower tail- 

 coverts whitish ; legs, toes, and claws bluish-grey. 



GREAT TIT. 



