INSESSOEES. 57 



surprised to find a specimen of the Crested Tit. 

 This bird, he assured me, was shot in the spring of 

 1860 in a small spinney in Cool Oak Lane, Kings- 

 bury. The person who shot it had large shot in 

 his gun, so that the specimen in consequence was 

 somewhat shattered ; but it has been tolerably 

 well preserved, and, as a British-killed and local 

 specimen, much interest attaches to it. With the 

 exception of one shot a few years ago at Blackheath, 

 by Mr. Engleheart, in his own garden, this is the 

 only instance that has come to my knowledge of 

 the Crested Tit having been found so far south in 

 England. 



GREAT TIT, Parus major. A common resident. 

 Two facts relative to this species I do not remember 

 to have seen mentioned in print. The first, its 

 change of note at different seasons of the year ; the 

 second, its diversity of habits. Not only does it 

 closely resemble other members of the genus in its 

 flight and actions, and, like them, is to be seen 

 hanging, head downwards, in search of insect food, 

 but I have frequently observed it climbing like 

 a Creeper, and hammering at a crevice like a Nut- 

 hatch. 



BLUE TIT, Parus cceruleus. Like the last-named, 

 resident throughout the year, and in its habits 

 one of the most interesting and amusing birds to 

 observe. 



COLE TIT, Parus ater. Appears most numerous 



