312 SUMMER. 



though they will, when they are hawking for larvae in 

 a tree, allow one to come very near them, they are not 

 easily caught or shot. 



When the supply of insect food fails, they have no 

 objection to take seeds, nuts, beech mast, or, according 

 to the common saying, "any thing that they can get/' 

 They do not much frequent the vicinity of houses in 

 winter, but content themselves with what they can 

 pick up in the fields ; and it is amusing enough to see 

 with what neatness they take a nut, or the thick husked 

 seed, in their little claws, and hammer away at it with 

 their beak till they make an opening, through which 

 they can extract the kernel. Although they do not 

 court man, or covet the shelter of his dwelling, they 

 do resort to the neighbourhood of houses when the 

 weather is more than ordinarily severe, and beat about 

 the eaves and other sheltered places where insects are 

 apt to hybernate. They often pull out straws from 

 the thatch of cottages, for the sake of the insects that 

 are about them, and sometims draw corn from a stack 

 and pick the ears. We have seen them tearing open 

 the pods of pease in a stack yard, and keeping the 

 contents, pea by pea, in their claws, till the whole was 

 eaten. 



When they are captured old, they h'ght and peck 

 with a great deal of determination and spirit ; but 

 if taken young, they are easily tamed, and may be 

 taught a number of tricks. Native birds are, however, 

 seldom sought for, but on account of their song ; 

 and as the titmice have not much to boast of in that 

 way, they are generally allowed to exercise their ac- 



