TITMICE. 



The Parus tribe, or TITMICE, are easily recognized, 

 having a strong family resemblance. They have all 

 strong, stout little beaks, and are all insectivorous ; but 

 when insects fail, will eat oily seeds, and feed greedily 

 upon carrion. They are murderous little creatures, and 

 ought never to be kept in an aviary. The GREAT OX- 

 EYE TITMOUSE (Parus major) will attack and kill other 

 birds if at all weakly, and is particularly fond of eating 

 their brains. In confinement it will cat meat, bread, 

 cheese, nuts, and German paste, and is very fond of fat. 

 It is a clever bird, and can be taught to perform various 

 tricks, to draw up water, etc., but its murderous pro- 

 pensities and harsh voice make it a very undesirable 

 cage bird. A smaller Tit, with a black and white head, 

 called the COLE TITMOUSE (Parus atcr\ is a more 

 amiable inhabitant of an aviary. It is so active and 

 lively that it ought not to be kept in a cage : it is very 

 amusing from its propensity to lay up a hoard of food 

 for a time of scarcity ; it will hide a quantity of seed 

 in an obscure corner or niche in the aviary, and visit 

 its hoard from time to time. I have read of a Cole Tit, 



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