THE BLUE TIT. 451 



part of the body is light yellow, with the exception of a lon- 

 gitudinal light blue stripe which arises from the middle of the 

 breast, and passes between the legs. The wing coverts are 

 light blue, the larger ones being tipped with white : the tail is 

 azure blue. 



The female is somewhat smaller : the stripes on the head 

 are not so distinct : the blue of the plumage is tinged with 

 ashen grey, and the stripe on the belly is hardly perceptible. 



Habitat. The Tom Tit frequents oak and beech woods, 

 though in autumn and winter, when migrating in great num- 

 bers in search of food, it may often be seen in gardens. In 

 confinement, it may, like the Ox-eye, be allowed to range 

 the room, as its plumage is thus seen to the best advantage, and 

 at night may be driven into a cage or other appointed sleeping 

 place. It is as quarrelsome and malicious as the Ox-eye but, 

 though much addicted to teazing its companions, is not strong 

 enough to inflict any serious injury upon them. 



Food. In a wild state the Tom Tit eats insects and their eggs; 

 and in autumn, berries. In confinement, it may be treated 

 like the Ox-eye ; and if fed, when first caught, with a little 

 crushed hemp seed, soon becomes accustomed to the food of 

 the aviary. It is very fond of bathing. 



Breeding. It builds its nest in the hollow branches of lofty 

 trees, lining the hole which it selects for the purpose, with 

 moss, hair, and feathers. The female lays eight or ten reddish 

 white eggs, mottled and spotted with brown ; and the young 

 birds resemble the parents, except that the colours of their 

 plumage are not so bright. 



Diseases. The majority of those which are caught in winter 

 die, after a few days of confinement, of dizziness, which in- 

 capacitates them for finding their food. 



Mode of Talcing. The Tom Tit may be caught in the same 

 manner as the Ox-eye. 



Attractive Qualities. These are chiefly its beauty and lively 

 disposition, as its song consists only of a few indistinct and 

 not very melodious passages, in which a few higher notes may 

 occasionally be distinguished. It soon becomes tame, and 

 lives for two or three years. 



ADDITIONAL. This bird has with us a great variety of names, 

 such as the Blue Titmouse, Blue-cap, Blue-bonnet, Tom-tit, 

 Hick-wall, Billy -biter, Ox-eye, &c. It is perhaps the most com- 



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