856 
PARUS. 
brown colour. The old birds sit very close on their eggs when near 
hatching ; and we have been informed by a gentleman of veracity, that 
he saw this bird taken with her eggs on the point of hatching, and car- 
ried in a hat to some distance ; and that she continued to sit in con- 
finement, and brought out her young. The time of incubation is three 
weeks ; the young leave the nest in twelve hours ; the parent birds are 
equally tenacious of their young, and lead them immediately to ant- 
hills, on the eggs of which they principally feed at first. 
These birds flock together in broods till the returning spring. Some- 
times three or four coveys will assemble in winter, and are then ex- 
ceedingly shy. In vain may the sportsman pursue them, unless by 
surprise he can break and scatter the covey. 
About the middle of February they begin to pair. In June they 
lay, and the young are excluded about the middle of July, and in about 
three weeks are capable of flying. 
This is one of the few birds known under the denomination of game, 
and protected by the legislature. But notwithstanding many severe penal 
laws are enacted for its preservation, it is a query if the breed is not 
decreased thereby. The great demand of the luxurious and wealthy, 
and the high price given for these birds, is too great a temptation to 
the poacher ; and he risks his liberty to supply the tables of the rich. 
Thus the several laws respecting game are ineffectual : they only serve 
to enhance the price, and hold out a temptation for the husbandman to 
ruin himself and family ; whereas if the penalty was made much greater, 
and that wholly confined to the buyer, it would fall upon the tempters, 
who should be the only persons obliged by law to pay for their luxuries. 
The late act of parliament for confining the killing of this species be- 
tween the fourteenth of September and the twelfth of February, ojily 
tended, in some degree, to preserve them from the fowler, but not from 
the nets of the poacher. 
There are several varieties mentioned of this bird, but they are 
merely accidental defects. Four entirely white were taken alive out of 
one covey, by order of the late Lord Courtenay, at Powderham, in 
Devonshire, three of which we saw. These were intended to be given 
their liberty in the spring, in hopes of propagating the breed ; but we 
never heard if it had the effect, or what became of them. 
PARUS (LiNNiEus.) — * Tit, a genus thus characterised. Bill strong, 
short, somewhat conical, slightly compressed, sharp pointed, and hard; 
nostrils at the base round, covered with reflected bristly feathers ; feet 
with three toes before and one behind, the fore ones divided to their 
origin, the hind toe strong and armed with a long hooked claw ; wings 
