BIRDS. 113 



eggs by the end of March. Two broods are often reared 

 in the year, and the whole family goes in a troupe during 

 winter. They may then be seen roosting at night in a 

 row along one branch of a tree. 



GREAT TIT B. Very common. A handsome bird, noted 

 Parus major. for the habit of placing its nest in 



curious places, such as letter boxes, 

 pumps, etc. The writer knows of a case where a Great 

 Tit, having built in a letter box, was inconvenienced by 

 the letters falling on the nest, and deliberately removed 

 one, which was found, later on, at a considerable 

 distance ! It is called " Ox-eye," by country people, 

 from its note, which is supposed to resemble these 

 syllables. 



COAL TIT B. Common in large woods; closely resembles 

 P. ater. the next species. 



MARSH TIT B. Not uncommon. It does not particularly 



P. palustris. frequent marshy places, as its name 



seems to imply. It may be distinguished 



from the Coal Tit by the absence of white on the nape 



of the neck. 



BLUE TIT B. Always called locally Tom Tit," though 

 P. carultus. the name is sometimes used for 



the other Tits as well. This is the 

 commonest of all the Tits, and a general favourite, on 

 account of its sprightly manners. Like the other Tits it 

 is exceedingly active in its search after insects, and in 

 pursuit of them clambers up and down the boughs in 

 every conceivable position, as often as not head down- 

 wards, picking them out from crevices in the bark, or 

 the recesses of leaf-buds. 



