160 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXX. 



Head. It abounds also in most of the islands. 

 Frequently living where there is little cultivated 

 ground, the blue-rock pigeon feeds on many green 

 plants, and I have also found its crop nearly full of 

 small shells. Whatever its principal food may be, 

 it is a particularly well-flavoured and delicate bird,, 

 and much superior in this respect to either the 

 dovecot pigeon or the woodpigeon. 



A very beautiful little bird, and one not generally 

 known to breed in Britain, is the crested titmouse. 

 From the number of specimens which have been 

 procured by Mr. Dunbar from the woods of 

 Strathspey it is evident that this bird must be there 

 in great abundance, although it does not appear to 

 extend its visits to other parts of the country, with 

 the exception of the woods about Dulsie on the 

 Findhorn. In these picturesque and beautiful 

 woods the crested titmouse is found, but not in such 

 numbers as in Strathspey. Its habits are the same 

 as those of the other species of tomtits, searching 

 actively among the fir-trees for insects and hanging 

 from the branches in every possible attitude, probing 

 every crevice with its tiny but strong bill. All the 

 kinds of titmice are very carnivorously inclined, 

 feeding greedily on any dead bird or other animal 

 which they may meet with. Our favourite, the 

 robin, is not much behind them in this respect, 



