X 



**- 



THE BLUE TIT. 



Parus cceruleus. 



HE Blue Tit ; or as it is com- 

 monly called, the Tomtit, is 



| onejof the most diminutive of 

 the British birds. But no one 



: who has amused himself by 

 watching this merry little crea- 

 ture in its unceasing" movements 

 in search of food would hesitate 

 to describe it as a perfect type 

 of perseverance and activity. 

 Like the rest of the Titmice, 

 this restless little bird spends a 

 great deal of its time in trees, 

 and displays the greatest dex- 

 terity and nimbleness in cap- 

 turing the various insects which 

 are to be found there. Its 

 method of procedure is extremely 

 interesting, as it examines every 

 portion of the branch on which 

 it alights with the most minute 

 scrutiny : above, below, and 

 around it moves with a quick 

 jerky motion, carefully peering 

 into every possible place in 



