246 TITftlOUSE. 



into pairs, to form a future generation. It is observed, that all the 

 Titmice have one mode of sitting, though their nests are different, 

 viz. that the male brings food to the female, during incubation, the 

 latter very seldom stirring from the nest. It lias a very trifling note, 

 and too little varied to be kept for the purpose of singing, though it 

 is not disagreeable ; the flesh is not valued for eating, being more 

 or less bitter. 



This, and the Blue Titmouse, have been accused of doing much 

 injury to fruit trees, by pulling off* the buds for food ; but later 

 observations teach us, that the bird never attacks any, except those 

 in which an insect had previously taken possession, and the extir- 

 pation of the bud so injured, may perhaps ultimately be of much 

 service.* 



This bird is found throughout Europe, as well as other parts of 

 the Old Continent, at least from Sweden to the Cape of Good Hope ; 

 every where met with in Russia and Siberia, even in the winter; it is 

 also in India, and there called Har Goura. When kept in a cage, 

 it will eat both insects and seeds, and when fed on hemp seeds, is 

 observed to peck a hole in every grain before swallowing. 



A. — Cross-billed Titmouse, Lemhi's Birds, i. pi. in Frontispiece. 



This is in size, shape, and colours, not unlike the Common Sort, 

 but much darker ; cheeks pale grey, instead of white ; and the 

 colours every where more dull ; but the chief singularity is in the 

 bill, both mandibles being greatly elongated, and becoming slender 

 in proportion ; the upper one bending downwards, and the under 

 upwards, crossing each other as in the Crossbill. 



This curious Lusus Natures was taken alive, in a weak state, in 

 the street at Faversham, in Kent, supposed to have been shot at 

 some distance, dropping there when it could fly no further; and from 



* See Batk Trans, abridged, Vol. ii. p. 98. — a Paper by Mr. Haskins. 



