170 Paridcc. 



the near approach of winter may be confidently expected.* Its 

 note is a loud cheep, followed by a harsh chatter ; but in spring 

 and early summer this changes to a curious see-saw note, not 

 unlike the sound produced by sharpening a saw with a file 

 hence in some parts of England it is known as the ' Sawsharper.' 

 These notes are very loud for so small a bird, and may be heard 

 at a great distance.-)- This species is noted for the strange 

 places it will sometimes select for its nest. In my garden at 

 Yatesbury it has for several consecutive years selected a spot 

 within a bee-house, just outside one of the bee-boxes, containing 

 a hive of bees in full activity : and here it piles up an extra- 

 ordinary mass of moss and cowhair, and on the top it places its 

 soft nest of feathers, and has hitherto always been fortunate in 

 bringing off its brood in safety ; but whether or no the bees 

 always escape, and whether they approve as a neighbour so 

 determined a persecutor of the insect race, is not quite so 

 apparent. In France it is La Grosse Mesange, or Charbonuiere ; 

 in Spain and Portugal, Carbonero, all with the meaning of 

 ' Charcoal-burner.' In Italy it is Cinciallegra maggwre, and in 

 Germany Kohlmeise. In Portugal, however, where it is very 

 abundant, it is more correctly known as Cedovem. Mr. Tait 

 says that in that country it begins to sing its peculiar note in 

 February, and, according to the country people, seems to say, 

 Semeia linho, semeia linho * Sow flax, sow flax ' indicating that 

 the time has come for that seed. They believe that when the 

 bird sings much it is a sign of an abundant harvest, and that it 

 also says, Tudo bem, tudo bem ' All's well, all's well.' He remarks 

 also that it is the only species which he has observed eating the 

 procession caterpillar, the hairs of which are well known to be 

 highly irritant to the human skin, and Par us major must there- 

 fore have a strong throat, gizzard, and stomach. J 



* Lloyd's ' Scandinavian Adventures,' vol. ii., p. 306. 



t Harting's ' Sketches of Bird Life/ p. 89. 



J Mr. W. C. Tait on the ' Birds of Portugal/ Ibis for 1887, p. 183. 



