42 



AMOROUS TITMOUSE* 



utter a noise like the spitting of a cat : if it is 

 handled, it will bite very sharply : its note is far 

 from pleasing, consisting only of a disagreeable 

 shriek : before the young are hatched, if the nest 

 is touched it will forsake it, especially if one of 

 the eggs should be broken. 



AMOROUS TITMOUSE. 

 (Parus amorosus.) 



Pa. ccBruleo-nigricans^ macula alarum longitudinali rufo Jlavoque 

 dimidiata. 



Dusky-blue Titmouse, with a longitudinal spot on the wings 



half red, half yellow. 

 Parus amorosus. Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. 568. 1?. 

 Parus amatorius. Gmel. Syst. Nat. 1. 1015. 

 La Mesange amoureuse. Buff. Hist. Nat. Ois. 5. 45Q. 

 Amorous Titmouse. Lath. Gen. Syn. 4. 546. 15. 



This species is called the Amorous on account 

 of its disposition, as, when kept in confinement 

 in pairs, nothing can exceed the fondness of the 

 sexes for one another: it inhabits the northern 

 parts of Asia : it is five inches and a quarter in 

 length : weighs three drachms : its beak is above 

 half an inch in length, and is black at the base, 

 and orange at the tip : wing with a longitudinal 

 fascia on the middle, half yellow, half rufous : rest 

 of the plumage of a dark slate colour, verging on 

 black. 



