THE BLUE TIT, OR TOM TIT. 279 



dusky, but whitish at the edges and tip ; the iris is dark brown ; 

 the shanks are eight lines high, and lead blue ; the front of the 

 head and cheeks are white ; a white line passing from the fore- 

 head above the eyes forms a border to the fine sky-blue of the 

 top of the head; a black line crosses the eyes; the black of 

 the throat becomes on the sides of the neck a dark blue band, 

 which surrounds the head. 



The female is rather smaller than the male, the streaks about 

 the head not being so clearly denned, while the blue has the 

 appearance of being tinged with ash grey. The line down 

 the under part of the body is scarcely observable. 



HABITATION. These birds, in their wild state, frequent woods, parti- 

 cularly those of beech and oak. During autumn and winter they wander 

 from one place to another, and are often seen in considerable numbers in 

 our orchards. 



In the house they may be kept in a cage like the oxeye ; but it is prefer- 

 able to let them hop and flutter about at pleasure, as their plumage is then 

 seen to the greatest advantage. They are as mischievous and quarrelsome 

 as the oxeye, and pursue the other birds in the same manner, even killing 

 them when they are strong enough. 



FOOD. When wild they feed on insects and their grubs, and in autumn 

 on berries *. 



In the house they should be given the same food as the oxeye, accustom- 

 ing them to it at first by mixing bruised hemp-seed with it. They like to 

 wash themselves. 



BREEDING. The nest, placed at the top of a tree in an old hollow 

 branch, is built of moss, hair, and feathers. This species lays from eight to 

 ten reddish white eggs, speckled and spotted with brown. The plumage 

 of the young birds differs from that of the older ones, only in being less 

 bright and glossy. 



DISEASES. Most of these birds that are caught in winter, are attacked 

 with vertigo, or giddiness, after being in the house a few days, fall to the 

 right and left, and being unable to find their food, soon die. 



MODE OF TAKING. They may be caught in the same way as the oxeye. 



ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES. The blue tit is easily tamed, and lives two or 

 three years. Its beauty and activity are more attractive than its song, 

 which is merely an indistinct warbling, composed of a few strains, amongst 

 which some higher notes are occasionally introduced. 



* They are fond of picking bones TRANSLATOR. 



