COLE TIT. 395 



and shrubberies, particularly those containing the various 

 firs, the birch, or the oak. Like the Blue Tit also, this 

 species is constantly in motion, sometimes associated with 

 Gold Crests, and Lesser Redpoles, forming a small flock, 

 and roving from tree to tree in active search for those 

 small insects, and the seeds of various evergreens, upon 

 which they principally subsist. They appear to bear cold 

 weather with indifference ; and are resident all the year, 

 not only in this country and in Scotland, but even in higher 

 northern latitudes. 



The note of this bird is generally harsh, with frequent 

 repetition, but it sometimes assumes a more agreeable 

 tone. The nest is built of moss and wool, lined with 

 hair, placed in a hole of a wall or a tree, in a cavity of a 

 decayed stump, and occasionally on the ground at the 

 mouth of the hole of some burrowing animal. Mr. Hewit- 

 son says, that when the Cole Tit " breeds in the holes of 

 trees it is usually at a less elevation than the other species, 

 and sometimes even in cavities which occur amongst the 

 exposed roots." The eggs are from six to eight in 

 number, rather smaller in size than those of the Blue 

 or Marsh Tit, but, like the eggs of all the species of this 

 genus, in colour they are white spotted with pale red, 

 measuring seven lines in length, by five lines and a half in 

 breadth. 



The Cole Tit, according to Mr. Thompson, is generally 

 distributed over Ireland. Mr. Macgillivray includes it 

 among the Birds of Scotland. Mr. W. Christie saw it in 

 Norway. M. Nilsson says it is resident in Sweden ; and 

 Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, states that it inhabits 

 Siberia, and passes the winter even beyond the Lena. It 

 is not less generally spread over the European continent ; 

 and according to the Prince of Canino, it is a constant 

 resident as far south as Italy, and a few are seen in Sicily. 



