24 BLUE TITMOUSECRESTED TITMOUSE. 



Habits. Closely resembling the other Tits, but rather shyer 

 in the breeding season. 



Food. Insects and their larvae, seeds, and berries. 



Nest. April or May. Probably one brood only. 



Site. In decayed stump of a tree, in willows, in bank, hole 

 sometimes excavated by the bird ; always near the ground. 



Materials. Grass, moss, hair, and wool, felted together, 

 lined with willow-down. Note. None of the other Tits use 

 this latter material. 



Eggs. Five to eight. White, speckled and dotted with pale 

 red-brown. 



BLUE TITMOUSE (Farm cceruleus). 



Resident. Well distributed and common ; rarer in the North 

 of Scotland. Found well nigh everywhere, even in large 

 cities. 



Plumage. Crown blue encircled with white. Cheeks white 

 bounded with blue ; upper parts olive-green. Wings and tail 

 blue; under parts yellow. Bill nearly black. Legs bluish 

 grey. Length 4J in. Female duller ; cheeks ashy. Young 

 less blue throughout and yellower. 



Language. Song, " pim-im-im-im-im." First two syllables 

 pitched about two tones above the rest, and rather metallic 

 in tone. Call-note, " tzee " ; also a chiding, scolding note. 



Habits. One of our prettiest small birds. It is a kind of 

 acrobatic harlequin, and seems quite as much at home hanging 

 head downwards from a bough as in any other position. Flight 

 undulating. It readily goes to the ground to feed if necessary. 

 On the nest the bird sits tightly, hissing, and pecks in- 

 truding fingers (hence Billy-biter). 



Food. Insects and their larvae ; but failing this, practically 

 omnivorous. 



Nest. April onwards. Probably two broods. 



Site. A variety of places, quaint and otherwise, usually in 

 hole in wall or tree or other suitable cavity. 



Materials. Moss, leaves, grass, feathers, and cobwebs, lined 

 with wool, hair, and many feathers. 



Eggs. Five to nine. White, speckled and dotted with pale 

 reddish brown. 



CRESTED TITMOUSE (Parus cristatus). 



Resident. Rare and strictly local, and confined at least as 

 a breeding species to certain pine forests in Scotland. 



Plumage. Feathers of head black edged with greyish white 

 and forming a crest ; a black streak from eye to back of head, 

 continuing round cheeks, and ending in the black throat and 



