126 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



passes over the nape; back, scapulars and tail- 

 coverts olive-green ; lesser wing-coverts blue, in- 

 clining to dusky in the centre of each feather; 

 greater wing- coverts the same, but tipped with 

 white ; quills dusky, narrowly margined with blue 

 and white ; tertials dusky, tinged with blue, mar- 

 gined with olive-green and tipped with dull white; 

 tail dusky, much tinged with pale blue, the outer 

 feather on each side white ; breast, belly and all the 

 under parts sulphur-yellow; legs, toes and claws 

 bluish black. 



The egg of the Blue Tit is much like that of the 

 Great Tit, only smaller in size. 



COLE TIT, Parus ater. The Cole Tit is not quite 

 so common as the last species, though in this neigh- 

 bourhood more so than the Great Tit. It is resident 

 here throughout the year, and much resembles the 

 other Tits in habits, manners and food, and is to be 

 constantly seen with them. Like the others, its food 

 consists principally of insects and buds : kernels of 

 the stones of fruit also form part of its food, and 

 I have often seen the bird hammering at the shells 

 with its beak to break them. 



A short time ago I observed a Cole Tit busily 

 engaged in picking some of the white, mildew- 

 looking substance on an apple tree : I brought 

 some of the mildew in, examined it with a micro- 

 scope, and found it full of small insects, which the 

 bird must have been eagerly devouring. Montagu, 



