122 AVES INSESSORES. [PARUS. 



breast and belly, on each side of the black line, yellow : quills dusky ; 

 wing-coverts bluish ash, the larger tipped with white : tail dusky ash ; 

 the outer feather with the exterior web white; the next tipped with 

 white: under tail-coverts white: bill black: legs lead-colour. In the 

 female, the colours are not so vivid, and the abdominal black streak does 

 not extend so low down. (Egg.) White, spotted and speckled with pale 

 red : long. diam. nine lines and a half; trans, diam. seven lines. 



Common in woods and gardens throughout the country. Has a great 

 variety of notes, which are heard very early in the year. Feeds prin- 

 cipally on insects, but will also devour grain, as well as flesh. Breeds in 

 the hollows of decayed trees, or in old walls. Nest constructed chiefly of 

 moss, and lined with feathers. Eggs very numerous. 



74. P. cceruleus, Linn. (Blue Titmouse.) Crown 

 blue, encircled with white : cheeks white, bordered with 

 black, and dark blue. 



P. cseruleus, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 289. Blue Titmouse, 

 Mont. Orn. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 235. pi. 51. f. 2. Bew. 

 Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 276. 



DIMENS. Entire length four inches four lines : length of the bill four 

 lines; of the tarsus eight lines; of the tail one inch eleven lines; from 

 the carpus to the end of the wing two inches four lines ; breadth, wings 

 extended, seven inches eight lines. 



DESCRIPT. Forehead white, the white extending backwards in the 

 form of a narrow band above the eyes, and reaching to the occiput ; crown 

 of the head bright blue : cheeks white, bounded above by a narrow black 

 line commencing at the bill and passing through the eyes, beneath by 

 another line of dark blue extending from the chin to the hinder part of 

 the neck where it becomes broader : back yellowish green : throat, and 

 longitudinal streak on the middle of the abdomen, deep blue ; breast and 

 sides bright yellow : wings and tail blue ; secondaries and greater coverts 

 tipped with white : bill and legs bluish gray. In the female, the blue 

 colours are more obscure, and the abdominal streak not so well denned. 

 (Egg.) White, spotted with pale red: long. diam. seven lines and a half; 

 trans, diam. six lines. 



Equally common with the last species. Habits and food similar. Nest 

 placed in the holes of trees ; formed of moss, and lined with hair and 

 feathers. 



75. P. cristatus, Linn. (Crested Titmouse.) Crown- 

 feathers elongated, forming a crest, black, edged with 

 white : cheeks and sides of the neck dull white : throat, 

 a streak on the temples, and collar, black. 



P. cristatus, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 290. Crested Titmouse, 

 Mont. Orn. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 243. pi. 43. f. 5. Bew. 

 Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 274. 



DIMENS. Entire length four inches eight lines: length of the bill 

 (from the forehead) three lines and a half, (from the gape) five lines ; 

 of the tarsus nine lines ; of the tail one inch eight lines ; from the carpus 

 to the end of the wing two inches six lines. 



