PARING. PARUS. 179 



where it picks grain, other farinaceous matters, suet or flesh, 

 and in spring commits havoc among the buds, probably in 

 search of insects. The nest, which is placed in the chink of a 

 wall, or under the eaves or thatch, or in a hole in a tree, is 

 composed of moss, grass, and wool, and lined with hair and 

 feathers. The eggs, from six to ten or more, are seven and a 

 half twelfths long, six-twelfths in breadth, reddish-white, ir- 

 regularly spotted with light red. This species is often found 

 in winter traversing the woods in company with the Coal-Tit 

 and Golden-crested Kinglet. It clings to the twigs in all sorts 

 of attitudes, has a direct rapid flight, and in spring a variety 

 of notes, of which the most common resemble the syllables 

 chicka, chicka, chicka, chee, chee. 



Blue Titmouse. Blue-cap. Blue-bonnet. Tom-tit. Hick- 

 wall. Billy-biter. Ox-eye. 



Parus coeruleus, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 341. Parus coeruleus, 

 Temm. Man. d'Ornith. i. 289. Parus cceruleus, Blue Tit, 

 MacGillivray, Brit. Birds, ii. 431. 



108. PARUS ATER. COAL TIT. 



Head and neck glossy bluish-black, with a broad patch of 

 white on the cheek and side of the neck, and a large white 

 spot on the nape ; back grey, breast white, hind parts brown- 

 ish-yellow ; two white bars on the wing, formed by the tips of 

 the secondary coverts, and first rows of small coverts. Young 

 similar, but with the tints duller. 



Male, 4J, 7 T \> 2 T \, T ^, T \, A, T V Female, 4J-, 7 T V 



The favourite abode of this species is in forests and planta- 

 tions of fir and pine, where it wanders about in troops, often 

 composed of a vast number of individuals, and usually asso- 

 ciating with the Gold-crowned Kinglet, Long- tailed Mufflin, 

 and Blue Tit. But although partial to fir woods, it also fre- 

 quents those of birch, oak, and alder. Its flight is short and 

 even, its cry a sharp cheeping note, and in searching for its 

 insect food, it exhibits the greatest activity, clinging to the 

 twigs in every kind of position. Its nest, which is placed in 

 a hole, or crevice in a wall or decayed tree, is composed of 

 moss intermixed with hair, and lined with wool and hair. The 

 eggs, from five to eight, are seven-twelfths long, nearly six- 

 twelfths in breadth, white, with light red spots and dots. 



Cole Tit. Coal Titmouse. Blackcap. 



Parus ater, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 341. Parus ater, Temm. 

 Man. d'Ornith. i. 288. Parus ater, Coal Tit, MacGillivray, 

 Brit. Birds, ii. 440. 



