262 THE BOOK OF BIRDS 



necked earthenware water-bottle left on a rockery, and a 

 human skull in a garden. 



The Titmice are a far-spread family. You will not 

 find them in South America, nor yet in Australia, but 

 Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America offer them a 

 joretty wide choice of homes. 



The British Isles know six species : the Great Tit, the 

 Cole Tit, the Marsh Tit, the Blue Tit, the Crested Tit, and 

 the Long-tailed Tit — a charming group of cousins, each 

 pretty in his own way. 



Of these certainly the fourth, the Blue-cap, as he is 

 sometimes called, is the most commonly met with in 

 England. He loves the orchard, and in the early days of 

 spring especially, before the leaves have thickened on the 

 boughs, he and his fellows may be seen flitting from tree 

 to tree, and going through all manner of nimble acrobatic 

 feats as they search every likely place for the grubs and 

 insects which are the tree's worst enemies. 



It is a habit with the Blue-caps, as with some of their 

 cousins, to hunt for food in company. A flock of them 

 sets forth like a search-party. They ransack a tree or 

 group of trees, together, and as soon as a store of good 

 things is chanced upon, the finder pipes a little call-note. 

 Then the whole party gather round him and forthwith 

 fall to feasting. They find this method much more 

 satisfactory than going out singly to search, " every one 

 for himself" 



That the Tits make raids upon the fruit blossom and 

 the fruit is only too true. But to destroy them on that 

 account is both unjust and unwise. One bird-lover, the 

 Rev. M. C. H. Bird, who has suffered from their visits, 

 writes thus in their defence : "I can speak feelingly upon 

 the question of ' Tits and fruit,' the Great and Blue Tits, 



