TITS 



37 



Fig. 40. 



Nest. Place : thick bushes and hedges, also in trees. 

 Material : moss, lichen, cobwebs, hair, wool felted to form a 

 domed nest with the opening at the side near the top. Lined 

 with feathers. 



Eggs. Usually 8-12. White spotted light red, sometimes 

 unspotted. Av. size, '55 x "43 in. Laying begins in April. 

 Broods 1-2. 



68. Great-tit,ox-eye [Parus major L.]. Resident and generally 

 distributed. Some are winter visitors to our eastern seaboard, 

 but these, owing to the greater size of the beak, have been sepa- 

 rated as Parus major major Linnaeus. If this distinction is main- 

 tained the breeding form becomes Parus major newtoni Prazak. 



Bird. Length 5| in. Distinguished from the other tits by 

 its distinctly larger size and by the broad 

 black band which runs from the black 

 throat down the centre of the under-parts. 

 Head and throat glossy blue-black with a 

 striking white patch on the cheek. Upper- 

 parts yellowish-green, passing into bluish- 

 grey on the rump and tail. Outer tail- 

 feathers mostly white. A white spot on the 

 nape. Under-parts mostly sulphur-yellow. 

 Wings chiefly greyish-blue and brown with a white bar. 



Nest. Place : usually in some kind of hole, also in thickset 

 twigs or old nests of other species. Material : moss, grass, 

 wool, &c., lined usually with hair or fur. 



Eggs. Usually 6-11. White spotted with shades of red- 

 brown ; also unspotted. Av. size, *70 x '53 in. Laying begins 

 April-May. Usually 1 brood. 



69. British coal-tit [Parus ater britannicus Sharpe and 

 Dresser]. Confined, as far as known, to Great Britain, but its 

 winter movements may extend to Ireland. 



Bird. Length 4J in. Recognised by the conspicuous large 

 white patch on the nape. See also marsh- 

 tit and willow-tit. Head and throat 

 glossy blue-black with a white patch on 

 each cheek. Upper-parts and wings 

 mostly olive-grey with two white bars on 

 the latter. A rufous tinge on the rump. 

 Under-parts dull white with reddish-buff 

 on the flanks. 



Nest. Place : a hole, usually in an old 

 stump or wall. Material : moss, lined usually with hair, fur, 

 or wool. 



Eggs. Usually 7-11. White with red spots. Av. size, 

 *59 x '45 in. Laying begins April-May. One brood is usual. 



Fig. 41. 



