348 



British Cage Birds. 



The quills forming the wings are greyish black, edged with pale 

 dusky greenish blue ; the wing coverts are pale blue, the larger 

 ones being tipped with white, like the spangles on a Lizard 

 Canary. The tail is blue, edged with pale blue on the outer 

 plume ; the two centre feathers are the longest. The breast, 

 sides, abdomen, and vent, are pale greenish yellow ; and down the 

 centre of the body, from the middle of the breast, passing 

 between the legs, is a longitudinal stripe of pale blue. The 

 legs and feet are bluish black ; the latter are of a shape adapted 

 for climbing. 



Habits and Breeding. — The Blue Titmouse is well-known 

 throughout Europe, and is partly migratory. In this country 

 it is known by a variety of names. It is exceedingly active and 

 vigorous in its movements, and most industrious in destroy- 

 ing insects and their larvse, and, consequently, of great service 

 to horticulturists. Its motions and attitudes when in quest of 

 food are graceful and elegant, and the rapidity with which it 

 traverses the branches of trees is quite surprising. 



The chief resorts of Blue Tits are gardens, orchards, groves, 

 pleasure-grounds, and woods in close proximity to towns and 

 villages. They principally build their nests in the holes of 

 trees, or in walls. The nest is composed of moss, hair, and 

 feathers, the latter being used in great abundance. The hen 

 lays from eight to sixteen whitish eggs (sometimes more, but 

 rarely), slightly spotted with brown, and, as a rule, hatches 

 eight or ten young ones. Blue Tits only have one nest 

 in the year, unless molested, or deprived of their eggs. If 

 the eggs are handled, and one damaged or broken, the hen 

 will forsake them, unless this should happen before she has 

 finished laying, or when she is near hatching. The female 

 defends her eggs and progeny with the greatest courage and 

 determination, and will not leave them when on the nest ; 

 and if an attempt be then made to disturb her, she will draw 

 herself up on one side, puff out her feathers like a barndoor 

 fowl in charge of newly-hatched chicks, erect her tail, let 

 down her wings, hiss like a snake, and bite with the utmost 

 ferocity. 



These birds have a violent antipathy to owls, their greatest 

 enemies, who rob them of their nestlings, and often devour the 

 parents likewise ; but, in spite of this fact, they show no signs 

 of trepidation, and, with a heroism almost beyond belief, will 



