248 Birds. 



insects, as well as the seeds of numerous kinds of wild 

 plants. 



" Bright o'er the green hills rose the morning ray, 



The Woodlark's song resounded on the plain, 

 Fair nature felt the warm embrace of day, 

 And smiled through all her animated reign." 



LANGBOUDN. 



THE TITMOUSE, OR TOM-TIT, (Parus cceruleus.) 

 THE LONG-TAILED TIT. (Parus caudatus.) 



THE common Titmouse or Tom-tit is a very small bird, 

 only four inches and a half in length. He has a blue head, 

 with white cheeks and a white stripe over each eye ; his 

 back is greenish, his wings and tail blue, and the lower 

 surface of his body yellow. This bird, and all the species 

 related to it, live on insects, as well as on seeds. When 

 kept in a cage, it is really amusing to see with what quick- 

 ness the Titmouse darts at any fly or moth which comes 

 imprudently within its reach. If this kind of food be 

 deficient, as generally happens in winter, it feeds upon 

 several kinds of seed, and particularly that of the sun- 

 flower, which it dexterously holds upright between its 

 claws and strikes powerfully with its sharp little bill, till 

 the black covering splits, and yields its white contents to 

 the persevering bird. Its general food consists of insects, 



