170 GREATER TITMOUSE. 



THE GREATER TITMOUSE PARUS MAJOR, 

 Will. P. major, Will. Linn. fyc. La Grosse 

 Messauge ou Cherboniere, Buff. Temm. fyc. 

 Greater Titmouse or Ox-eye of British 

 authors. There are a few birds which have 

 something peculiarly marked and clean-looking 

 in their plumage. These are most frequently 

 aquatic in their habits, but our present species 

 will vie with any of them, and from the distinct 

 colours, and the decided contrast in which they 

 are placed, always convey lively associations. 

 The Greater Titmouse is also very generally dis- 

 tributed over our islands ; but it is scarcely so 

 common as the former, and has a more limited 

 northern range. So far as we have observed, it 

 seems to delight more in older timber, such as 

 we find growing in some of the fine and extended 

 parks of the south, than in the lower brushwood 

 and younger plantations which the Blue Titmouse 

 frequents : at the same time, it is by no means 

 uncommon in gardens or orchards, and the vici- 

 nity of dwellings ; it is active, but does not 

 possess the very quick and constant motions of 

 some of the smaller kinds. Its common note is 

 loud and monotonous, very constantly repeated 

 when alarmed ; during the season of pairing, that 

 of the male is harsh and grating, resembling the 

 noise produced by sharpening a saw ; it is now 

 uttered for a considerable time from one station, 

 chosen somewhat elevated, which is occasionally 

 changed to a h( * distance, and the note of incu- 



