BRITISH BIRDS. 43 



succeeded by a bluish-black line passing through eye, 

 below which cheeks are dull white ; lower nape dark blue, 

 this colour extending below cheeks and joining blue-black 

 throat ; back yellowish-green ; tail and wings blue ; 

 greater coverts and secondaries tipped with white ; under 

 parts dull yellow ; bill black ; tarsi slate. Length 4 "50. 

 Female : duller in plumage. 



Common everywhere. Frequents woods, gardens, 

 orchards, etc. Nest : usually in holes in trees or old 

 walls, but many curious sites have been chosen ; com- 

 posed of moss, wool, hair, and feathers. Eggs : 7 to 12 ; 

 white, spotfed with pale red ; size *6o by '45. First eggs 

 are laid late in April ; the female is an obstinate sitter, 

 and hisses if disturbed ; young are fed chiefly with small 

 caterpillars. Song is a shrill, quick chirrif-ee, chirrif-ee, 

 chirrif-ee, commenced at end of January ; when alarmed 

 bird utters a harsh rattling note ; associates with other 

 species in winter. 



54. Parus eristatus, Linn. CRESTED TITMOUSE. 



Hab. Western and Northern Europe, north to lat. 

 64 in Norway, east to Central Russia, south to Spain ; 

 not found in S.E. Europe. 



Male : feathers of head black, edged with white, 

 lengthened and directed upwards, forming a noticeable 

 crest ; cheeks white, mottled with black and bordered 

 behind by a crescentic streak of black, behind which is a 

 collar of white, followed by another black streak running 

 from nape and joining black of throat and upper breast ; 

 back and wing-coverts olive-brown ; primaries and tail 

 dusky -brown ; under parts white, tinged with pale brown ; 

 bill black ; tarsi blackish-slate. Length barely 4*70. 

 Female : less black on throat and more dull white on crest, 

 while latter is also smaller. Young have very little crest. 



