40 THE COLE TIT 



roses trained against cottages, and will occasionally flutter against 

 the glass to secure a spicier or gnat that he has detected while 

 passing. His power of grasping is very great. I have seen him 

 cling to the moulding of a window for several minutes, without 

 relinquishing his hold, though the projecting surface was merely 

 a smooth beading. All this while he was engaged in tearing to 

 pieces the cocoon which some caterpillar had constructed in a 

 crevice ; and so intent was he on his occupation, that he took no 

 notice of the tenants of the room, though they were only a few 

 feet distant from him. He is more frequently seen on the ground 

 than either of the other species, and where it is the custom to 

 throw out crumbs and the scrapings of plates, for the benefit of 

 little birds, the Blue Tit rarely fails to present itself among Sparrows 

 and Redbreasts. 



The Tom Tit builds its nest of moss, and lines it with hair, wool, 

 and feathers. This it places in a hole, either in a wall or tree, and 

 is at so great pains to combine comfort and security for its brood, 

 that it has been known to excavate, in a decayed stump, a chamber 

 large enough for its nest, and to carry away the chips in its beak to 

 some distant place, lest, we may suppose, they should betray its re- 

 treat. More frequently, however, it selects a natural hollow, as, for in- 

 stance, the stump of a small tree in a hedge, of which all the inner 

 part is decayed ; nor does it despise human appliances if they will 

 answer its purpose ; a disused pump, a bottle, or a flower-pot, have 

 all been known to serve its turn. It lays seven or eight eggs, 

 but a nest containing eighteen is on record ; and in defence of 

 its family, shows great courage. If a nest be molested, the bird, 

 instead of endeavouring to escape, retains its place and makes an 

 unpleasant hissing noise, and if this be not enough to deter the 

 intruder, pecks his fingers with great vigour. Hence it has received 

 the popular name of ' Billy Biter '. As a songster, it does not rank 

 high : yet it has some variety of notes, which it utters in short 

 snatches, expressive rather than musical, as if the bird were trying 

 to talk rather than to sing. 



THE COLE TIT 



PARUS ATER 



Crown of the head, throat, and front of the neck black ; cheeks and nape 

 white ; upper parts grey ; wings bluish grey, with two white bands ; 

 under parts white, tinged with grey. Length four inches and a half ; 

 breadth nearly eight. Eggs like the last. 



This and the following species resemble each other so closely in 

 size, habits, general hue and note, that at a distance it is difficult 

 to distinguish them. There are, however, strong points of difference ; 

 the head and neck of the present species being glossy black, with 



