448 THE COLE TIT. 



length, of which the tail measures one inch, and three quarters. 

 The beak, which is three lines long, is black, lighter at the 

 point ; the iris blackish brown ; the feet eight lines high, and 

 lead-coloured. The top of the head and neck are black ; from 

 the back of the head down the neck runs a broad white stripe ; 

 the cheeks, with the sides of the neck, are white, and form, 

 when the bird is perched, a three-cornered white spot. The 

 back is dark ashen blue; the rump a greenish ashen grey. 

 The throat, as far as the upper part of the breast, is black ; 

 the last black feathers being tipped with white. The breast 

 is white ; the rest of the upper part of the body also white, 

 tinged with red. The smaller wing coverts are like the back ; 

 the larger blackish, tipped with white, whence arises a double 

 white stripe. The pen feathers are a brownish grey, bordered 

 with a whiter shade ; the tail feathers of the same colour. 



The female is with difficulty distinguished from the male. 

 The only difference is, that she is somewhat less black on the 

 breast, and less white on the side of the neck. 



Habitat. This Tit may be met with wherever there are 

 pine forests. In autumn, winter, and spring it may be some- 

 times seen in other woods and in gardens, but only during its 

 migrations. Large flocks pass in the winter, from one pine 

 forest to another. It seems to like the company of the Gold- 

 crested Wren, which is always found in its flocks, as well as 

 one or two of the Crested Tits, which serve as guides. 



It is sometimes confined in a cage, but it is better when al- 

 lowed to have the run of the room among the other birds. 



Food. In a state of nature, the Cole Tits eat insects and 

 their eggs, and Iarva3, as well as the seeds of all species of 

 pine and fir. As the snow and hoar frost during the winter 

 frequently deprive them of sustenance, nature has taught them 

 to lay up in time of plenty a provision for the future. They 

 conceal a stock of seeds under the rough bark of the fir tree, 

 to which they have recourse in necessity. This instinct may 

 be noticed in these birds when in confinement, as they endea- 

 vour to hide their superfluous food in niches and crevices from 

 other birds, and sedulously visit their hoards, to be sure of their 

 safety. The Blue Tit and the Ox-eye manifest somewhat of 

 this tendency, and often carry their food into a corner, but do 

 not hide it with as much care and forethought as the Cole Tits. 

 They are generally fed with the universal paste. 



