PASSERES (PARIDiE). 403 



The Tits (Parid^). 



This useful family of birds are often accredited with destroy- 

 ing fruit-buds. If we examine the buds being attacked by them, 

 we shall find that they contain either some mite, maggot, or 

 insect egg, and thus they are doing us inestimable good. The 

 commonest species are the Great Tit (Parus major) and the 

 Blue Tit (P. cceruleus). 



The Great Tit is more abundant in the south than the north. 

 It is extremely vicious, and its strong beak makes it a formid- 

 able enemy. It is said that it attacks other small birds, and 

 cracks their skull open to feed upon the brain. The chief food 

 consists of insects of various kinds, especially small larvse and 

 pupsB. Like all the Parids, the great tit is an expert climber, 

 hunting for grubs as it progresses up and round the tree-trunk 

 and boughs. The damage done to buds must at once be put on 

 one side, as in nearly all cases it is to get at the contained grub ; 

 but there is no excuse for a very common habit they have of 

 pecking the pears and apples just before they are ripe at their 

 base and sides. They make their nests in all manner of queer 

 places, the nest being lined with fur, hair, and feathers, and 

 contains as many as eight or nine small white eggs spotted and 

 blotched with pale red. The head and throat are Ijlack, back 

 olive-green, breast and abdomen yellow, a black line running 

 down the breast ; cheeks pure white. 



The Blue Tit (P. cmruleus), sometimes called the Tomtit, is 

 another useful bird. It builds its nest in holes in walls, 

 trees, &c. The young are fed with small larvse and plant-lice. 

 The old birds hunt the orchards and clear off endless hibernating 

 insects, such as codlin moth larvae, American blight, aphis, and 

 red-spider eggs. Sometimes they damage buds, but it is nearly 

 always for the enclosed grub. Most fruit-growers now encourage 

 it for the good it does. The other British species also feed on a 

 similar diet, varied with nuts and seeds. Large numbers of blue 



