22 GREAT TITMOUSE OE OX-EYE. 



Language. Song, a constant repetition of the call-note, 

 " tse-tse," or " zit-zit." 



Habit*. Very sociable, and usually seen in foraging parties. 

 Like all Tits, exceedingly restless, and it performs graceful and 

 engaging acrobatic feats among the branches of a tree when 

 hunting for insects. Flight undulating in fact, it looks like a 

 feathery arrow skimming wavily in the air. Insects captured 

 on the wing. Occasionally food is taken on the ground, but 

 the tree branch is the rule. 



Food. Insects and their larvae. 



Nest. March onwards. Two broods. 



Site. In middle of hawthorn hedge, or evergreen ; in furze- 

 bush, against trunk of tree, supported by a lateral branch. 



Materials. Moss, lichens, wool, hair, cobwebs, carefully 

 felted together, lined with a profusion of small soft feathers. 

 Nest domed (hence Bottle Tit). 



Eggs. Six to ten, sometimes more. White, sparingly 

 speckled with lighty rusty red. 



GREAT TITMOUSE OR OX-EYE (Parus major). 



Resident; common and well distributed except in extreme 

 North. 



Haunts. Woods, plantations, orchards, gardens, &c. 



Observations. Our largest Tit about the size of a Sparrow. 

 Note black head and white cheeks. 



Plumage. Head, throat, and band on centre of breast black,; 

 upper parts olive-green. Cheeks and nape white ; under parts 

 yellow. Wings bluish grey, tipped with white. Tail-feathers 

 slate-grey ; outer pair tipped and edged with white. Bill black. 

 Legs lead-coloured. Length 5f in. Female rather duller, and 

 less black on the breast. Young duller, and white cheeks 

 washed with yellow. 



Language. The well-known rasping noise (hence Saw- 

 sharpener), like "che-chi-che-chi." Also it sings " tzoo-tzoo- 

 werry-tzoo-tzoo-werry-tzee-tzee." Call-note, " chick-chick," 

 rather like Chaffinch. Alarm-note, " werry-urre," with the r's 

 vibrated. 



Habits. Always restless and shifting about from one tree to 

 another, indulging in various acrobatic performances all the 

 while. Pugnacious, and will attack weakly small birds and 

 split their skulls. 



Food. Insects and their larvae ; also seeds, fruits, scraps, 

 suet, nuts, &c. 



Nest. April onwards. Two broods. 



Site. In holes in walls or trees, in squirrel's drey, or rook's 

 nest, &c. 



