364 PARIDA. 
herself to be carried in the box into a house for examina- 
tion, and when the box was replaced in its former situation, 
she did not desert her eggs, but hatched them, and reared 
her young. The Blue Tit sits “about fourteen days. 
When first hatched,” says a correspondent in the Magazine 
of Natural History, “the hen sat upon the young ones 
several hours durmg the day. This time was gradually 
shortened, till they were sufficiently fledged not to need 
such a means of warmth. Nothing but small grubs and 
caterpillars were brought to the nest; and I was induced 
to believe that the depredations of these birds are not, at 
that time of the year, injurious to vegetation. Many 
insects did they bring from some apple trees that grew 
near, but no buds.” In another instance where the parent 
birds were closely watched, caterpillars only were brought, 
in rapid succession, to feed their young. 
Insects, in their various stages, appear to-be the princi- 
pal objects of search as food during summer. In winter 
the Blue Tits frequent farmyards and out-houses, picking 
up small seeds, or other portions of vegetable matter, and 
are constant visitors to the horse flesh hung up near the 
dog-kennel. They are most amusing when seen upon trees, 
from their unceasing restlessness, and the grotesque posi- 
tions assumed under as well as over the branches when 
searching for food. The call-note is a single shrill chirp, and 
the best vocal efforts of this little bird possess but little 
variation. esd. 
The general distribution of the Blue Tit in this country 
renders a particular notice of its localities unnecessary. 
It appears to be common in Ireland ; and was seen by Mr. 
Selby as far north in Scotland as the fir plantations at 
Rosehall in Sutherlandshire. It is a native of Denmark, 
Norway, Sweden, the southern part of Russia, and the 
