BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



seven recognized British species, five of which I am 

 able to mention as belonging to Somersetshire : the 

 various species are all numerous in individuals. 



GREAT TIT, Parus major. The Great Tit, the 

 first in order of the Tits, is a well-known and hand- 

 some bird : it is to be seen in all our orchards and 

 gardens at all times of the year, as it is resident 

 here. This bird, like most of its congeners, is sup- 

 posed to be, and to a certain extent is, mischievous, 

 as in the spring it feeds a good deal on the buds of 

 apple and other fruit trees, picking to pieces not 

 only the buds which have been previously rendered 

 unhealthy by insects, for the sake of the grub or in- 

 sect that may be in them, but greedily devouring the 

 germ of the healthy bud itself: against this un- 

 doubted mischief must be set off the great amount of 

 good done by the continual destruction of noxious 

 insects, as will appear by the following list of food, 

 for this is another of M. Prevost's birds : "January, 

 beetles and eggs of insects ; February, grubs ; March, 

 water-snails, beetles and grubs ; April, cockchaffers, 

 beetles and bees ; May, the same ; June, cockchaffers, 

 flies and other insects ; July, the same ; August, in- 

 sects and fruit ; September, seeds, grasshoppers and 

 crickets ; October, berries ; November, seeds." Buds 

 are not mentioned in this list, but whoever looks 

 attentively at almost any of the Tits, will see them 

 busily looking for insects amongst the fruit and 



