220 BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BIRDS. 



Many Titmice were there too — the Bearded — the 



Great; 

 One whose penduline nest is commodious and neat. 



last ; said to be t» very mischievous bird ; breeds in holes of 

 walls, and lays six or more eggs, similar in colours to the pre- 

 ceding. Inhabits every part of Europe, and well known in this 

 country. It is a great enemy to the annual sun-flower seed, 

 destroying it almost always, if not prevented long before it is 

 ripe. In food this bird appears, however, to be omnivorous, 

 eating even flesh. Except in its attacks on the sun-flower seed, 

 (Helianthus unnuus,) I am noi aware of any of its mischievous 

 depredations ; although in some places the churchwardens still 

 pay, I believe, for tomtits' heads as well as those of sparrows. 



The Palustris, Marsh-Titmouse, Black-cap^ or Little black- 

 headed Tomtit f has the head black ; back cinereous ; temples 

 white. Three other varieties ; all found in this country, ex- 

 cept one, a native of Louisiana. It is rather larger titan the 

 tomtit. 



The Peniluiinus, or Penduline-Titmouse, frequents moist 

 and marshy places, and builds a nest in the shape of a large 

 purse, with an opening on one side, and attached to the end of 

 some brancli of a tree hanging over water; eggs white; four 

 and a half inches long; inhabits Europe, as far as Siberia. 



The Biai'tnicus, Bearded-Titmouse, or Least -Butcher -Bird, 

 is a very elegant species ; six and a quarter inches long ; the head 

 is bearded ; body rufous ; tail longer than the body ; suspends 

 its nest between three reeds ; inhabits Europe in marshy places, 

 and found in our own countiy. 



The Amatorius, or Amorous-Titmouse, is blackish bine, five 

 and half inches long; remarkable for the great aff'ection which 

 each sex shows for each other ; inhabits Northern Asia. 



Beside these, the following inhabitants of this country may 

 also be mentioned : the Cristatus, or Crested-TitmousE ; 

 and the Ater, or Colemouse. 



