BLUE TIT SCOLDING 37 



of the blue tit. I heard it a little on December 27, 

 but it was then only tentative; now it is the 

 perfect trill, clear though short. I do not think I 

 ever before heard it so early. The blue tit has 

 several quite distinct notes ; and besides that, the 

 tone of its notes varies a good deal. From its 

 being so much more constantly on the window- 

 sill than any other bird, I have learnt to under- 

 stand its language better. 



Generally, while I am at breakfast, there are 

 three or four of them at a time, picking up the 

 minute remains of the crumbs of the day before 

 (their regular breakfast succeeds mine), and 

 keeping up all the time a pretty little contented 

 twitter which tells me that no larger bird is there. 

 Suddenly there is a change of tone which a less 

 accustomed ear might perhaps not notice ; I look 

 out carefully, and there is a chaffinch or some 

 other intruder perhaps another tit, which they 

 think one too many for the crumbs. The discon- 

 tented tone increases, and is accompanied by 

 equally expressive irritated gestures, till at last 

 there is a savage attack which, from its sudden- 

 ness, nearly always sends away the stronger bird. 

 The small beak too of the blue tit is probably 

 nearly as sharp as a needle. Sometimes the dis- 

 contented tone only ends in the scolding note. 

 This is a very distinct note, and quite unmis- 



