124 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE . 



band runs from the throat down the centre of the 

 breast to the belly ; under tail-coverts white ; legs, 

 toes and claws lead-colour. In its nestling plumage 

 the Great Tit has the cheeks pale yellow, and the 

 black parts are dull and clouded. 



The egg of the Great Tit has a white ground, 

 spotted all over with a sort of brick-dust red. 



BLUE TIT, Parus caruleus. This beautiful, though 

 rather mischievous little bird, the most numerous 

 of any of the Tits, is resident with us throughout 

 the year. In manners and habits it resembles the 

 rest of its congeners, climbing about the small 

 branches of trees and shrubs, looking out for in- 

 sects and buds, almost always in company with the 

 other Tits, and generally in the winter to be found 

 also in company with the Lesser Redpole and 

 Siskin, all of them climbing about together in 

 search of food, with the greatest activity assuming 

 positions hitherto unthought of by the best of bird- 

 stuffers or greatest of acrobats. 



The food of the Blue Tit consists principally of 

 insects, buds and seeds ; occasionally also, especially 

 in the winter, it will pluck grain from ricks. Both 

 Montagu and Yarrell add that it is very fond of 

 flesh, and is a constant visitor to any place where 

 horse-flesh is hung up for feeding dogs : I have not 

 myself observed this partiality. 



The nest of the Blue Tit is usually placed in a 

 hole in a wall or tree, or in some crevice in wooden 



