THE BLUE TITMOUSE. 

 Parus cisruleuSt Linnaeus. 

 Plate io. 



This little favourite is resident and widely distributed throughout the country, 

 becoming scarce or local in the Orkneys, Shetlands, and north-west of Scotland. 

 Abroad it is spread over almost the whole of Europe, and it ranges eastwards as 

 far as Persia. 



It is the most common and best known member of the Titmouse family, and 

 may be met with all the year round in gardens, orchards, and woodland country. 



It nests in April, and usually chooses a hole in a tree or some cavity in a wall, 

 though various other and often strange sites are selected in which to rear its young. 



The nest is made of moss, wool, hair, and feathers, and contains from six to 

 ten eggs — sometimes more — which are white, spotted with rusty-red. 



The Blue Titmouse lives principally on insect food, and is of great service to 

 the gardener in ridding the fruit trees of grubs and other pests. Expert and 

 skilful in securing its prey, the larvae hidden in buds and foliage have little chance 

 of eluding its sharp eyesight. 



In spring it produces, like the other Titmice, a little song, in addition to its 

 usual alarm and call notes, and in autumn small parties may often be seen about 

 the woods, mixed up with other Tits, Goldcrests, and Tree-Creepers. 



The sexes are similar in colour, although the male is rather the brighter of 

 the two. 



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