66 CAGE AND SINGING BIRDS. 
thoiigli tliere is no doubt individuals of tlie species differ 
greatly in disposition. 
THE COLE TIT. 
This bird, altlioug'li generally distributed tlirough Great 
Britain, is not common in any locality ; it is neither so large 
nor so gaily-coloured a bird as the last species, than which it 
is more shy. It builds a nest of the same materials as those 
used by the ox-eye, but often in situations nearer the ground, 
sometimes in the hole of a mouse, rat, or mole. It is a 
pretty, lively bird, constantly hopping and fluttering about, 
but is difficult to keep in health and having no connected 
song, only a number of harsh ringing notes repeated many- 
times in succession, is scarcely worth keeping, except as one 
of an interesting family group. 
THE BLUE TIT. 
This is the funniest little mountebank of a bird that ever 
mortal eyes beheld; with his bullet head, and short thick 
body, apology for a tail, and no bill to speak of, he is here, 
and there, and everywhere, whisking about in his elegant 
suit of blue, green, white, and black, bold and feai-less, 
caring for nobody, not even his mortal enemy, the gardener, 
viho keeps his gun ready loaded for his especial benefit. A 
sad pilferer is the blue tit : dreadful havoc he makes among 
the buds; but it is the "worm i' the bud" that he seeks, 
which would destroy it if the bird did not — so the little 
fellow is not so mischievous after all. When we consider 
what a number of insects he destroys, we may well believe 
that he does more good than harm. The haunts and habits 
of this little bird are so much like those of the preceding- 
species, that we must not occupy space by describing them. 
Its beauty and liveliness are its only recommendations, as it 
is no songster. 
THE MARSH, THE CRESTED, AND THE BEARDED TITS 
Are other members of this beautiful and lively family of 
birds of which no particular description need be given. 
Bechstein includes them in his w^ork, but we have never 
seen them as cage birds in this country ; neither of thsm are 
songsters, any more than is 
