170 
PAUID.E. 
be seen to hop about among tlie branches of a low tree for 
some time, seeking for food, and when one of them has met 
with a morsel, it will approach its mate with it, Avhilc the 
other opening its beak and shivering like a young bird, utters 
the nestling’s note and receives the offered donation. This 
little species is so constantly seen in pairs, that it is believed 
to choose its partner for life. 
Like all other titmice, the monosyllable tzit! tzit! is one 
of the call-notes of this species during all occupations ; and 
from the frequency of its repetition we think it not impro¬ 
bable that this genus has derived its popular name of Tit, 
or Titmouse. They have also many other notes, such as 
spit! spit! (lea ! dea! also ailtz! ailtz ! which is said to 
be their call in the pairing-season. Many of the notes of 
the Titmice are highly musical, but their performance of 
them can scarcely be called a song, as it is frequently con¬ 
fined to two notes, uttered alternately, sometimes slowly, 
sometimes with great rapidity. The gathering cry of the 
Marsh Titmouse is of this description ; it consists of two 
notes, of a rich metallic sound, which seem to express huid- 
gee, or witjee^ uttered many times in succession. Towards 
the end of summer we have seen little parties of six or eight 
of this species, flitting together in lofty fir-trees, uttering 
frequently this metallic cry ; and we have noticed that they 
appear to delight in sultry weather. 
The food of the Marsh Titmouse is seeds and insects. 
During spring and summer they consume innumerable insects 
and their larvae, from the leaves and buds of trees, as well as 
from their branches and bark. In autumn and winter seeds 
and berries, and the eggs of insects are sought after. The 
seeds of sunflowers are a favourite food, also hemp-seed, 
spinach and lettuce-seed, and the seeds of many garden 
flowers; they will also eat oats, and, like the blue titmouse, 
they are fond of flesh. 
