THE SINGING BIRDS. 309 



Colonel Montague says, " It is not uncommon amongst the large tracts of pines in the north of 

 Scotland, particularly in the forest of Glenmore, the property of the Duke of Gordon, from whence 

 we have seen it," and Sir William Jardine states that " this bird has been found in some plantations 

 not far distant from Glasgow, where it annually breeds." 



It feeds on insects, berries, and the seeds of evergreens, and, according to M. Temminck, builds 

 in holes in trees, or walls. 



THE TOUPET TIT. 



The Toupet Tit (Parus bicolor) is remarkable by the tuft or toupet on its head. In this very 

 pretty bird the sexes are so much alike as to be scarcely distinguishable ; both may be described as 

 having the forehead black, the sides of the head brownish black ; all the upper surface uniform grey, 

 under surface greyish white, tinged with yellowish brown on the flanks ; bill black, irides dark brown, 

 feet lead-colour. 



There can be no doubt that the northern regions of America form the true habitat of this 

 species ; but as specimens have been undoubtedly killed in Russia, it may be classed among the 

 occasional visitors to the European continent ; nevertheless, it is exceedingly rare in Europe, and its 

 presence is confined to the regions adjacent to the Arctic circle. In the works of Wilson and 

 Audubon its manners are described as resembling those of other members of the genus. " It moves 

 along the branches," says the latter, " searches in the chinks, flies to the end of the twigs, and hangs 

 to them by its feet, whilst the bill is engaged in detaching a beech or hazel-nut, an acorn, or a 

 chinquapin, upon all of which it feeds, removing them to a large branch, where, having secured them' 

 in a crevice, it holds them by both feet, and breaks the shell by repeated blows of its beak. It 

 resorts to the margins of brooks to drink, and, when unable to do so, obtains water by stooping from 

 the extremity of a twig overhanging the stream- It appears to prefer this latter method, and is also 

 fond of drinking the drops of rain or dew, as they hang at the extremity of the branches.'' The same 

 author also informs us that its notes, which are usually loud and mellow, are rather unmusical than 

 otherwise ; that it is somewhat vicious in its disposition, and occasionally attacks and destroys smaller 

 birds by repeated blows on the head, until it breaks the skull. 



The nest is constructed of all kinds of warm materials, and is generally placed in the holes 

 formed by the Downy Woodpecker, or of other Woodpeckers, but it is occasionally placed in a hole 

 dug by the bird itself for that purpose. The eggs, six or eight in number, are pure white, with a few 

 red spots at the larger end. 



The WOOD TITS (Parus) differ from the species above described by the unusual strength of 

 their conical beak, which is compressed at its sides and pointed at its tip, and by their large, stout 

 claws. The wings, in which the third and fourth quills exceed the rest in length, are short and 

 broad ; the tail is long, or of medium size, and either slightly rounded or incised at its extremity. 

 The rich streaming plumage is often brilliantly coloured. The young resemble the mother; little 

 diversity, however, is observable between the sexes. 



THE GREAT TIT. 

 The Great Tit (Pants major') is olive green on the upper part of its bod}-, and pale yellow 

 beneath ; the top of the head, the throat, a stripe that passes along the body, and another extending 

 from the front of the throat to the back of the head, are black ; the quills and tail are bluish grey, and 

 the sides of the head and a stripe on the wings white. The eye is dark brown, the beak black, and 

 the foot lead-grey. In the young all the tints are somewhat paler. This species is five inches and 



