BLUE TIT. 363 
mon. It frequents small woods, orchards, and gardens ; 
and is said to do injury to fruit trees when searching for 
food, by destroying the fruit buds as well as the insects. 
Several experienced observers, however, believe that this bird 
does more good than harm. Mr. Selby says, “ I am con- 
vineed that the trifling injury occasionally committed by the 
abrasion of a few flower buds is more than compensated by 
the destruction of innumerable larve and eggs of the insect 
tribe, which are usually deposited in or about those essen- 
tial parts of fructification ; and which, if allowed to proceed 
through the necessary changes, would effectually check 
all hope of produce.” Other evidence will be adduced. 
The Blue Tit builds in a hole in a wall or a tree ; the nest 
is made up of a profusion of moss, hair, and feathers; the 
eggs are variable in number, sometimes very numerous. 
Montagu mentions six or seven; Pennant names from 
twelve to fourteen; Mr. Heysham has also found fourteen 
egos in a nest ; and Mr. Hewitson has recorded one instance 
in which the nest contained eighteen eggs. From eight to 
ten eggs, however, is the more common number ; they are 
white, spotted with pale red, measuring seven lines and a 
half in length, and six lines in diameter. 
When the Blue Tit has taken possession of a hole in a 
wall, or in a decayed tree, she is not easily induced to quit 
it, but defends her nest and eggs with great courage and 
perseverance, puffing out her feathers, hissing like an angry 
kitten, and goes by the name of Billy Biter among the 
bird-nesting boys of several counties, from a vivid recollec- 
tion of certain impressions made on their fingers. A female 
that had taken possession of a small wooden box hung up 
against an outbuilding, into which she had carried abund- 
ance of materials for her nest, and in the midst of which 
she was then sitting upon her numerous eggs, allowed 
