210 



MARSH TIT. 



MARSH TITMOUSE. BLACK-CAP. SMALLER OXEYE. 

 WILLOW-BITER. JOE BEXT. 



Parus palustris, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



" atricapillus, GMELIN. 



Parus ? Palustris Of or belonging to marshes. 



Itf Europe this is a perennial inhabitant, in Eussia, Siberia, 

 Norway, Denmark, Sweden, France, Holland, and Italy; and 

 doubtless in all other countries of the continent. Meyer says 

 that it is also found in North America, and the northern 

 parts of Asia. 



In Yorkshire, as in every county in England, the Marsh 

 Titmouse may be met with, here in greater, and there in 

 less plenty than the Cole Titmouse not that it is by any 

 means to be called a very common species. One of these 

 birds was shot on the river which runs through the town of 

 Louth, as I am informed by the Eev. E. P. Alington, in the 

 winter of 1849. In Scotland, except in the extreme north, 

 it occurs as in England. In Ireland it seems to be very 

 unfrequent, but not to be partial in its distribution. 



This species remains with us throughout the year. It is 

 perhaps even less shy than the Cole Titmouse, and may easily 

 be tamed. Though its name would lead one to suppose the 

 contrary, it is not by any means exclusively confined to 

 marshy districts, but may be found occasionally in any situation, 

 but principally by the wooded margins of streams and ponds, 

 preferring low trees and brushwood to hedgerow timber, the 

 wood, or the forest. Its habits and actions are those of the 

 other Titmice. 'They dwell together,' says Linna?us Martin, 

 'in considerable numbers, and are perpetually in motion, going 



