The next names wo'rthy of notice are those of the Parida;. 

 Tit originally signified something small ; by itself it stood as a 

 name of a small bird. But our word is confounded with the 

 Angle-Saxon mdse, the name of several sorts of little birds in 

 that language. It has no connection with "mouse," which comes 

 from a different root ; therefore its plural should not be titmice, 

 which involves this error, but titmouses. The root of m&.se 

 signifies "to diminish," and hence the latter part of the name, 

 as well as the former, refers to the small size of the birds — 

 about the smallest, indeed, with which northern nations are pop- 

 ularly acquainted. Tomtit is an affectionate nickname suggested „/ 

 by alliteration, like Tom Thumb. Bull. F.0.0. 8,ApU. 188 S.P^^^- 



f y3.^ .. A^^--^-^ - / No 



explanation is required for the word 0.".^^.. belonging to 

 several species of Parus, for anyone who has ever heard its 



" Saucy note 



Out of sound heart and merry throat." 



Bull. N. 0.0. S.Apil. 1883. p. 7 7- 



iSjt. Out-of-door Papers. Winter Fishing. By Fannie Pearson 

 Hardy. Ibid., p. ^6^. —Notes on a few winter birds in Maine, especially 

 Parus atricafillus. a-OT, SsStrOfem. YU, QS. ^^S-- 



