178 PARING. PARUS. 



lar to the adult, but with the tints much duller, and the dark 

 medial band on the breast less extended. 



Male, 6i, 10, 3, ft, H, ft, iV Female, 6 ft, 9{$ , ^ 



This species, which is less gregarious than the rest, is gene- 

 rally distributed in the wooded and cultivated districts. It 

 frequents woods, thickets, and occasionally gardens ; feeds on 

 insects, pupae, larvae, seeds, and buds ; is extremely active ; 

 and in spring and summer is remarkable for its curious song, 

 which resembles the sounds produced by sharpening the teeth 

 of a saw. It sometimes feeds on flesh, and is said to attack 

 small or young birds, splitting their skull with its bill. When 

 wounded and laid hold of, it bites most vigorously ; and should 

 its nest be attacked by other birds, it defends it with great 

 energy. It is usually placed in the hole of a wall ; or in one 

 formed expressly in the wood of a decayed tree, and is composed 

 of moss, leaves, shreds of bark, wool, hair, and feathers. The 

 eggs, about six, are nine-twelfths long, seven-twelfths in 

 breadth, bluish- white, dotted with red. 



The reason why I have adopted one of the old names given 

 to this species is, that relative terms applied to birds at a time 

 when all the species of a genus are not known, ultimately 

 turn out incorrect. Thus, the present species is not the lar- 

 gest known, and therefore cannot with truth be named major ; 

 Picus major and Picus minor of authors are greatly excelled, 

 either way, by many woodpeckers. 



Great Titmouse. Great Black-headed Tom Tit. Black- 

 cap. Ox-eye. 



Parus major, Linn. Syst. TvTat. i. 341. Parus major, Temm. 

 Man. d'Ornith. i. 287. Parus Fringillago, Ox-eye Tit, Mac- 

 Gillivray, Brit. Birds, 425. 



107- PARUS COERDLEUS. BLUE TIT. 



Upper part of the head light blue encircled with white ; a 

 line of dusky blue from the bill to the eye, another from the 

 eye to the occiput, where it meets a band of dark blue encir- 

 cling the neck, throat blackish-blue, cheeks white ; back light 

 yellowish-green, lower parts pale greyish-yellow, the middle 

 of the breast dull blue. Female much less brightly coloured. 

 Young with the colours similarly distributed, but much paler. 



Male, 4|, 7|, 2J, T \, T 9 5 , |i, ft. Female, 4&, 7^. 



This beautiful and lively species is very common in most 

 districts, frequenting gardens, orchards, and woods, feeding on 

 insects, larvae, seeds, and various other substances. In win- 

 ter it is often seen about farm-yards, doors, and dunghills, 



