BEITISH BIRDS 9 NESTS. 305 



Remarks - - Resident. Note : a harsh, shrill 

 che-chee, clie-cliee. Local and other names : Cole- 

 mouse, Coal Titmouse, Coalhead. Sits closely, and 

 hisses when molested. 



TIT, CRESTED. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about four 

 and a half inches ; bill short, straight, and almost 

 black. Irides hazel. The feathers on the top of 

 the head, especially behind, are lengthened, and 

 form a conspicuous crest; these feathers are dull 

 black in colour, tipped with light grey ; back, 

 wings, rump, and tail, brown, the quills being some- 

 what darker. A black streak runs from the base 

 of the beak to the eye, and passes onward between 

 the base of the crest and the ear-coverts to the 

 nape, from whence a broader black, curving line 

 descends behind the cheeks and ends abruptly on 

 the sides of the neck. Cheeks white, spotted with 

 black. The black line just described is followed 

 beneath by a broader band of white,- which in turn 

 gives place to a narrower curving black line, descend- 

 ing from the back of the head, and, passing in front 

 of the point or shoulder of the wing, joins the black 

 on the upper breast ; chin, throat, and upper breast 

 black ; lower breast, belly, and flanks dull white, 

 suffused with buff on the sides ; under tail-coverts 

 dull buff; legs, toes, and claws lead-grey. 



The female resembles the male, except that her 

 crest is shorter, and the black on her chin, throat, 

 and upper breast occupies less space. 



Situation and Locality. Holes in the trunks, 

 branches, and old stumps of trees. The hole is 

 situated from a few inches to ten or twelve feet 

 u 



