4 
calling incessantly, and show all signs of indecision: single ones fly off, intending to proceed; but 
when they see that the rest refuse to follow, they return, and others again try a start, until at 
last the whole company set off... . . If they have to pass over any extent of open ground, they 
rise so high that they are scarcely visible, and call continually. In March they return again to 
the north, but are not so abundant as in the autumn. Many, however, are only partial migrants 
or wanderers. ‘These are found in the late autumn and winter until the spring, straggling about 
the woods and gardens in small flocks. Some pairs are true residents, only moving about daily 
after food, and are seen every day in the same district. These are found in company with Gold- 
Crests and Creepers, sometimes with Nuthatches and Coal Titmice, seldom consorting with other 
Paride. Amongst wandering flocks of Long-tailed and other Titmice, single birds of the present 
species sometimes occur, and also in company with Siskins; but they do not fly with the latter, as 
these little Finches fly too swiftly for them to keep pace.” 
“ Clinging to the walls in our gardens,” writes Mr. Stevenson, “the Blue Titmouse digs out 
the larvee from their holes and corners ; and when he does scatter the blossoms from the fruit-trees, 
a still greater evil has been lurking at the base of the bud. Surely, then, none but the surliest 
old gardener would grudge him a taste of the fruit or other dainties he has so helped to pre- 
serve, or look otherwise than leniently on such peccadilloes ; and even the most obstinate of that 
opinionated race need but dissect the next victim of his folly to know that he has killed a friend. 
In winter when his more natural food runs scarce, hardly any thing comes amiss; and many a time 
has he afforded me a fund of amusement when picking a bone, especially fixed to a stake in the 
garden for his and my gratification. How he raises his little crest, and flutters his wings, when 
he first discovers the tempting feast; now hovering around or clinging to the sides, as some scrap 
of meat comes handy to his bill, or perched for an instant on the broken shank, he makes one 
laugh outright at his comical expression, as with head on one side he seems to speculate on the 
chances of reaching the marrow still remaining in the shaft. In one very severe winter, when 
many of our resident birds were completely starved, 1 remember seeing a pair of Blue Tits 
following a cart-load of turnips along the road, settling upon and pecking at the roots, for the 
purpose, no doubt, of extracting maggots from the wart-like excrescences on their surface. It has 
been remarked also by Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear that this species in winter frequents, for 
the same purpose, the sheds in which turnips are kept and where they are sliced up for the use 
of the cattle.” 
Mr. Thompson observes :—“ In addition to the more common haunts, this bird is met with 
as far up the sides of the mountain glens as there is a little underwood for shelter. It feeds 
pretty much on the highways, and occasionally builds in the walls of town gardens. In winter, 
whether mild or otherwise, this species is very partial to the reeds (Arundo phragmitis) fringing 
the river Lagan, near Belfast, where I have often been much interested in observing numbers of 
them. ‘The force of one coming against a dead reed sways it almost to the surface of the water 
in which the base is immersed ; but the Titmouse nevertheless maintains its hold—then, hurrying 
to another, alights near its base and rapidly runs up the stem to near the top, and almost dips in 
the river again; the graceful bend of the reed adds much to the beauty of such a scene.” 
Mr. A. Benzon, of Copenhagen, writes to us as follows:—‘ The peasantry here generally 
call it Blaakop, on account of its blue head. After the Great Titmouse, it is the commonest of 
