234 INSESSORES. PARUS. Titmouse. 



out the kingdom in all wooded and enclosed districts, but, 

 in the more open parts of the country, comparatively of rare 

 Food, occurrence. — ^Its food, during the greater part of the year, 

 consists of insects and larvas, which it finds upon the foliage, 

 or in the interstices of the bark of trees. It frequently asso- 

 ciates with others of its tribe, displaying similar attitudes, 

 and exerting equal activity in search of its prey. In autumn, 

 and during winter, it subsists upon grain, nuts, and other 

 seeds, and I have frequently seen it enjoying a repast on 

 carion, or other animal remains. — It sometimes also will at- 

 tack a bird its inferior in size, or one in a sickly state, frac- 

 turing its skull by repeated strokes of its pointed bill. Its 

 usual call-note is a kind of chatter, similar to, but louder 

 than, that of the Blue Titmouse. But in spring, as the pair- 

 ing season approaches, it uses a great variety of notes or 

 calls, amongst which is one closely resembling the spring-call 

 of the Chaffinch, sounding like the word pinl: ; and another 

 not unlike the jarring noise produced in the sharpening of a 

 saw. 



It breeds in the holes of decayed trees, or in those of old 

 and ruinovis walls ; and in the former case, the excavation is 

 made by the bird itself, which I have repeatedly seen busily 

 engaged in this task, and have admired the rapidity with 

 which the work advanced. The hole is often of considerable 

 depth, and at the bottom (where it is rather enlarged) the 

 Nest, &c. nest is placed ; the materials of which are moss, hair, and 

 feathers. 



The eggs, from six to eight in number (but, according to 

 Temminck, from six to fourteen or fifteen), are white, spotted 

 with reddish-brown, and scarcely to be distinguished from 

 those of the Nut-hatch. This species is found throughout 

 Europe, but more abundantly in its cold and temperate re- 

 gions. It is also said to be met with in Africa, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Cape of Good Hope. When seized, it de- 

 fends itself vigorously, inflicting a severe bite with its sharp- 

 pointed bill. 



