THE COLE TIT 



Parus ater, Linn^us ; La petite Charbonni^re, Buffon ; Die Tannenmeise, 

 Bechstein. 



The length of this bird is four inches and one-sixth, of which 

 the tail measures one and three -quarters, and the beak one 

 quarter. The back is black, with the tip lighter ; the iris is 

 dusky ; the shanks are eight Imes high, and lead blue ; the 

 upper part of the head and neck are black ; there is rather a 

 broad streak of white at the back of the head and down the 

 nape of the neck ; the cheeks and sides of the neck are also 

 white, forming, when the bird is at rest, a triangular spot ; the 

 back is dark bluish ash grey. 



The female is not easily distinguished from the male, unless 

 both are before you ; its being a little less black on the breast, 

 and a little less white on the sides, are the only differences. 



Habitation. — When wild these birds are seen in great numbers in pine 

 forests, and seldom, except during their wanderings in autumn, winter, and 

 spring, are they met with in other kinds of woods, groves, and orchards. 

 They often pass from one pine forest to another in large flights during the 

 winter*. They appear to like the society of the gold-crested wrens, which 

 are always found in these flights, as also some crested tits, which serve as 

 guides. 



In the house it is pleasanter to allow them to range with the other birds 

 than to keep them in a cage, yet there is some danger to their companions 

 from their cruelty. 



Food When wild, besides insects and their grubs, they feed on the 



seeds of different resinous trees ; but as they are often deprived of this food 

 in winter from the trees being loaded with snow and hoar frost, nature has 

 given them the instinct to provide against this emergency : they hide a 

 great quantity of these seeds in fissures, and under the large scales of the 

 bark of pine trees, to which store they have recourse when in want. 



The instinct just alluded to is manifested also in the house, even when 

 they have abundance of all kinds of food ; where they are observed to rob 



* It is not uucommon in Britain, such as near London, &c. — Translator, 



