40 OUR RESIDENT BIRDS 



GREAT TITMOUSE OR OX-EYE 



(Par us major), 



Common and well distributed except in extreme 

 North. 



Haunts. Woods, plantations, orchards, gardens, &c. 



Observation. Our largest Tit about the size of a 

 Sparrow. Note black head and white cheeks, and 

 black streak down breast. 



Plumage. Head, throat, and band on centre of breast 

 black ; upper parts olive-green. Cheeks and nape white, 

 under parts yellow. Wings bluish grey, tipped with 

 white. Tail-feathers slate-grey ; outer pair tipped and 

 edged with white. Bill black. Legs lead-coloured. 

 Length 5f in. Female rather duller, and less black on 

 the breast. Young duller, and white cheeks washed 

 with yellow. 



Language. The well-known rasping noise (hence Saw- 

 sharpener), like " che-chi-che-chi." Also it sings *' tzoo- 

 tzoo-werry-tzoo-tzoo-werry-tzee-tzee." Call -note," chick- 

 chick," rather like Chaffinch. Alarm-note, " werry- 

 urre," with the r's vibrated. 



Habits. Always restless and shifting about from one 

 tree to another, indulging in various acrobatic perform- 

 ances all the while. Pugnacious, and will attack weakly 

 small birds and split their skulls. Sits tight on nest and 

 hisses and pecks at intruders. 



Food. Insects and their larvae ; also seeds, fruits, 

 scraps, suet, nuts, &c. 



Nest. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. In holes in walls or trees, in squirrel's drey, 

 or rook's nest, &c. 



Materials. If in an open situation, moss, grass, hair, 

 and wool ; if in a cavity, less external material ; lined 

 with feathers, hair, and wool. 



Eggs. Six to twelve. White, spotted with reddish 

 brown ; like other Tits, only larger. 



