PARING. PARUS. 177 



tongue short, narrow, abrupt at the end, with four bristles ; 

 oesophagus of uniform and moderate width ; stomach a mo- 

 derately strong gizzard, elliptical, with the muscles and ten- 

 dons rather large, the epithelium longitudinally rugous ; in- 

 testine short, rather wide ; cceca very small and cylindrical ; 

 rectum moderately enlarged toward the end. Nostrils small, 

 roundish, in the fore part of the short nasal membrane, and 

 concealed by reversed stiffish brittle-tipped feathers. Eyes 

 small, eyelids feathered. Aperture of ear large and roundish. 

 Feet of ordinary length, rather strong ; tarsus compressed, 

 with seven very broad anterior scutella ; toes rather large, 

 the first proportionally very stout, the anterior united at the 

 base, the second considerably shorter than the fourth ; claws 

 long, much arched, extremely compressed, laterally grooved, 

 high, and tapering to an extremely acute point. Plumage 

 extremely soft, loose, and blended ; the feathers on the up- 

 per part of the head compact and glossy ; no distinct bris- 

 tles ; wings rather short, concave, very broad, rounded, with 

 nineteen quills, the first very short, the fourth and fifth 

 longest ; tail of moderate length, or rather long, narrow, even 

 or a little emarginate. 



The Tits are all of very small size, the largest not ex- 

 ceeding a House Sparrow in bulk, and some not more than 

 four inches in length. Although essentially insectivorous, 

 they also feed on seeds, occasionally flesh, and various other 

 articles. In severe weather they frequent the neighbourhood 

 of houses, but their favourite haunts are woods and thickets. 

 They are extremely active and bold, have a rapid flight, 

 utter various shrill cries, nestle in holes, in walls, or trees, 

 on branches, or in cavities in the ground, and lay numerous 

 eggs of a white colour, dotted with red or brown. They are 

 not only social among themselves, but frequently mix with 

 Kinglets, Creepers, and Nuthatches. 



106. PARUS FRINGILLAGO. OX-EYE TIT. 



The head, fore part of the neck, a transverse band on its 

 sides, and a longitudinal band on the breast and abdomen, 

 black glossed with blue ; cheeks and part of the nape white ; 

 back yellowish-green ; breast and sides yellow. Young simi- 



M 



