MARSH TITMOUSE— BLUE TITMOUSE. 39 
tit in the New Forest is probably owing to the abundance 
of fir-trees in that district. Several observers believe that 
it has increased of late years, which would agree with the 
fact that the Scotch fir was re-introduced into Hampshire 
about a hundred years ago, and that an enormous number 
of foreign coniferous trees and shrubs have been planted 
in our gardens and shrubberies during the same period. 
39. Partis palustris. Marsh Titmouse. 
Resident in all parts. 
This is certainly more common than the coal titmouse 
in the Central Hill district of the county, though it is not 
so in the New Forest. 
Munn knew a nest once of this bird which was com- 
posed entirely of cotton wool, picked up from an adjacent 
dust heap. 
Gilbert White was acquainted with it.^ 
40. Parus cceruleus. Blue Titmouse. 
A common resident, plentiful in all parts. 
Another name given to the species by Gilbert White^ 
is the "nun," which, he says, "is a great frequenter of 
houses, and a general devourer. Besides insects, it is very 
fond of flesh, for it frequently picks bones on dunghills ; 
it is a vast admirer of suet, and haunts butchers' shops. 
When a boy, I have known twenty in a morning caught 
with snap mouse traps, baited with tallow or suet. It will 
* Letter xli. to Pennant. 
