TITMICE. 165 



lined with the softest materials. The parents are 

 most assiduous in attending on their brood, and 

 in defending them from any attempts to force an 

 entrance to their citadel. They lay numerous 

 eggs. The notes of all are shrill and wild, and 

 small troops, feeding in company, are responded 

 to by each other in their tract through the wood, 

 or along the hedge row. At the commencement 

 of the breeding season the song of the male is 

 long continued and little varied. In some it is 

 harsh and grating, and is continued for more 

 than an hour with little intermission. With a 

 few exceptions, there is much alliance in the 

 colours of the group. Steel bluish black, in broad 

 markings, contrasted with white and yellow, and 

 on the upper parts yellowish green or gray are 

 the prevailing tints, several possess a crest cap- 

 able of being raised or depressed at pleasure. 

 Their appearance is always clean and enga- 

 ging- 



PARUS, Generic character. Bill strong, sub- 

 conical, comparatively short, sharp pointed ; 

 notch obliterated, or barely perceptible ; 

 nostrils covered with setaceous feathers ; 

 wings with the first quill short, four, five, 

 six nearly equal and largest ; tail commonly 

 of moderate length, rounded, very seldom 

 square ; feet and legs strong and powerful, 

 fore toes unequal ; hallux very powerful, 

 nearly equaling the outer toe in length. 

 Types, P. major , cceruleus. 



