COLE TITMOUSE AND LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 131 



THE COLE TITMOUSE AND LONG-TAILED 

 TITMOUSE. 



BY a close attention to the notes of this engaging 

 group of birds the observer will be enabled to instantly 

 identify them, even though the birds themselves are 

 obscured from view. He will find that each species, 

 though the notes of all are very similar, utters notes 

 peculiar to itself alone. He will find that the Ox Eye's 

 notes are the loudest and most peculiar ; the Blue Tit's 

 are harsh and garrulous, though often indescribably low 

 and sweet ; the Cole Tit's different still ; while the 

 Marsh Tit's cry is but little varied, and does not resemble 

 the notes of any other Titmouse ; and the long-tailed 

 species again possesses notes strictly its own. It is to 

 the casual ear alone that all their notes are alike ; but 

 to the ear of the ornithologist each note is different, and 

 each cry instantly proclaims the species of its owner with 

 unerring certainty. 



The Cole Titmouse is a handsome bird, with jet 

 black head and white cheeks : you can always tell him 

 from the Marsh Tit by the patch of white plumage on 

 the nape of the neck and by his peculiar notes. Cole 

 Tits frequent the woods, coppices, plantations, parks, 

 and gardens, and are most frequently found in pairs. 

 Perhaps their motions, though partaking of those of the 

 Titmice in general, are more rapid than other members 

 of the family. You sometimes see them dart through 



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