84 SKETCHES OF BIRD LIFE. 



enable them to hold on in any position while 

 searching for their food, whatever it may be. 



Owing to their attractive colours and sociable 

 habits, to say nothing of their noisy vociferation, 

 they can hardly escape notice even by the least 

 observant. Nor need we go far afield to discover 

 one or more of the family. At certain seasons of 

 the year, especially, they may be found in close 

 proximity to our dwellings ; and two of the species, 

 at least, are regular visitors to our London gardens 

 during the winter months. These are the Great 

 Tit and the Blue Tit ; and although the smoke- 

 begrimed trees of the metropolis sadly sully the pale 

 yellows and delicate blues of their soft plumage, 

 they appear as lively and careless when surrounded 

 by bricks and mortar as when flitting from tree to 

 tree in the fresh larch woods. 



All the species of Parus are resident with us 

 throughout the year, although they are not all 

 equally common, or to be met with in the same 

 localities. One at least, the Crested Titmouse, is 

 singularly restricted in its distribution, as we shall 

 presently see ; while another, the Marsh Titmouse, 

 must be regarded as somewhat local in its haunts. 



