370 PARIDA. 
and shrubberies, particularly those containing the various 
firs, the birch, or the oak. Like the Blue Tit also, this 
species is constantly in motion, sometimes associated with 
Gold Crests, and Lesser Redpoles, forming a small flock, 
and roving from tree to tree in active search for those 
small insects, and the seeds of various evergreens, upon 
which they principally subsist. They appear to bear cold 
weather with indifference ; and are resident all the year, 
not only in this country and in Scotland, but even in 
higher northern latitudes. 
The note of this bird is generally harsh, with frequent 
repetition, but it sometimes assumes a more agreeable 
tone. The nest is built of moss and wool, lined with hair, 
placed in a hole of a wall or a tree, in a cavity of a de- 
cayed stump, and occasionally on the ground at the 
mouth of the hole of some burrowing animal. Mr. Hewit- 
son says, that when the Cole Tit “‘ breeds in the holes of 
trees it is usually at a less elevation than the other species, 
and sometimes even in cavities which occur amongst the 
exposed roots.” The eggs are from six to eight m 
number, rather smaller in size than those of the Blue or 
Marsh Tit, but like the eggs of all the species of this genus, 
in colour they are white, spotted with pale red, measuring 
seven lines in length, by five lines and a half in breadth. 
The Cole Tit, according to Mr. Thompson, is generally 
distributed over Ireland. Mr. Macgillivray includes it 
among the birds of Scotland. Mr. W. Christie saw it in 
Norway. M. Nilsson says it is resident in Sweden ; and 
Pennant, in his Arctic Zoology, states that it inhabits 
Siberia, and passes the winter even beyond the Lena. It 
is not less generally spread over the European continent ; 
and according to the Prince of Musignano, it is a constant 
resident as far south as Italy, and a few are seen in 
