452 THE BLU2 TIT. 



. men species of its genus, and may be met with ala.ost every- 

 where ; a truly beautiful and lively bird, frequenting mostly small 

 woods, orchards, and gardens. "In Britain," says NEVILLE 

 WOOD, " wherever there are houses or farms, there our lively 

 and elegant little companion, the Blue Tit, is sure to be also, and 

 that, too, in great abundance, notwithstanding the strenuous 

 efforts of ignorance, seconded by cruelty, which have for centuries 

 been directed, without the slightest eause, to the destruction of 

 one of the liveliest of the feathered race, and one of the most 

 useful. Its movements are inconceivably rapid and elegant, and, 

 except when nipped by a severe frost, it is in constant motion, con- 

 tinually seeking its minute insect prey on the barks and branches 

 of trees, in the manner of the Warblers and Gold-crested Kinglet, 

 often clinging to the sprays with the head downwards. It holds 

 with the greatest ease on the smooth trunks of trees, and also on 

 walls and window frames, where it frequently seeks its insect 

 food." 



The eggs found in the nest of this bird are said to be sometimes 

 very numerous ; PENNANT mentions from twelve to fourteen : 

 ME. HEYSHAM has found the latter number ; and MB. HEWIT- 

 SON records an instance in which the nest contained as many as 

 eighteen ; from eight to ten, however, as stated by BECHSTEIN, 

 appears to be the more common number. The Blue Tit is a very 

 spirited bird, and defends its nest and eggs against all enemies, 

 with great courage and perseverance, as is well known to birds' 

 nesting boys, who have given it the name of Billy Biter, from 

 its sharp impressions upon their intruding fingers. When her 

 home and progeny are attacked, the mother bird puffs out her 

 feathers, and hisses like an angry kitten. " I was lately exceed- 

 ingly pleased," says KNAPP, " in witnessing the maternal care 

 and intelligence of this bird ; for the poor thing had its young ones 

 in the hole of a wall, and the nest had been nearly all drawn out 

 of the crevice, by the paw of a cat, and part of the brood de- 

 voured. In revisiting its family, the bird discovered a portion of 

 it remaining, though wrapped up and hidden in the tangled moss 

 and feathers of their bed, and it then drew the whole of the nest 

 into the place from whence it had been taken, unravelled and re- 

 settled the remaining little ones, fed them with the usual attention, 

 and finally succeeded in rearing them. The parents of even this 

 reduced family laboured with great perseverance to supply their 

 wants, bringing them a grub, caterpillar, or other insect, at in- 

 tervals of less than a minute during the day." 



