178 PARING. PARUS. 



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

 medial band on the breast less extended. 



Male, 6J, 10, 3, &, H, T , T V Female, 6 T V, 9if , ^ 



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, pupa?, 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 adecayed 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. Nat. i. 341. Parus major, Temm. 

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

 Gillivray, Brit. Birds, 425. 



107. PARUS CCERULEUS. 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 j v back light 

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

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

 Young with the colours similarly distributed, but much paler. 



Male, 4|, 7, 2J, T V, A, Ik, iV 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, 



