210 OUR NATIVE SONGSTERS. 



almost seem so to the lover of nature, and if 

 they can boast of little harmony, at least are not 

 discordant. 



Something superior to the notes of these birds, 

 are those of some of our native species of tit- 

 mouse ; and though we cannot agree with that 

 old lover of birds, Belon, who says, in his Por- 

 traits d^ Oijseaux^ of the largest species, that they 

 are " little birds which sin^ like angels," yet, we 

 must confess to liking well tlie song of the great 

 titmouse ; while all will admit, that to the active, 

 restless family of tits, we owe somewhat of the 

 cheerfulness of the woods in spring. Most merry, 

 busy, courageous little birds are these, and the 

 song of the Greater Titmouse,* or Ox-eye {Parus 

 major), is assuredly not without some music in it, 

 though little varied, and it has a cry composed of 

 notes so harsh and gi*ating, that they have been 

 compared to the shaq^ening of a saw, and obtained 



* The Great Tit is nearly six inches in length. The head 

 black ; the back and shoulders greenish-ash; the rump and small 

 wing-coverts bluish grey; the rest of the wing dark bluish grey 

 edged with white ; tail bluish-black ; a spot on the nape, and a 

 large one on each side of the neck white ; under parts dull yel- 

 low, with a stripe of black along the middle of the beUy, which 

 widens on the throat and joins the black of the head ; beak 

 black; feet grey. 



