178 
PARINtE. parus. 
lar to the adult, but with the tints much duller, and the dark 
medial band on the breast less extended. 
This species, which is less gregarious than the rest, is gene- 
rally distributed in the wooded and cultivated districts. It 
frequents woods, thickets, and occasionally gardens ; feeds on 
insects, pupge, larvse, seeds, and buds ; is extremely active ; 
and in spring and summer is remarkable for its curious song, 
which resembles the sounds produced by sharpening the teeth 
of a saw. It sometimes feeds on flesh, and is said to attack 
small or young birds, splitting their skull with its bill. When 
wounded and laid hold of, it bites most vigorously ; and should 
its nest be attacked by other birds, it defends it with great 
energy. It is usually placed in the hole of a wall ; or in one 
formed expressly in the wood of a decayed tree, and is composed 
of moss, leaves, shreds of bark, wool, hair, and feathers. The 
eggs, about six, are nine-twelfths long, seven-twelfths in 
breadth, bluish-white, dotted with red. 
The reason why I have adopted one of the old names given 
to this species is, that relative terms applied to birds at a time 
when all the species of a genus are not known, ultimately 
turn out incorrect. Thus, the present species is not the lar- 
gest known, and therefore cannot with truth be named major ; 
Picus major and Picus minor of authors are greatly excelled, 
either way, by many woodpeckers. 
Great Titmouse. Great Black-headed Tom Tit, Black- 
cap. Ox-eye. 
Parus major, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 341. — Parus major, Temm. 
Man. d’Ornith. i. 287. — Parus Pringillago, Ox-eye Tit, Mac- 
Gillivray, Brit. Birds, 425. 
Upper part of the head light blue encircled Avith white ; a 
line of dusky blue from the bill to the eye, another from the 
eye to the occiput, where it meets a band of dark blue encir- 
cling the neck, throat blackish-blue, cheeks white ; back light 
yelloAvish-green, lower parts pale greyish-yellow, the middle 
of the breast dull blue. Female much less brightly coloured. 
Young with the colours similarly distributed, but much paler. 
Male, 4;|, 7;|‘j 2^, Female, 4^-^^, 7^.^ 
This beautiful and lively species is A^ery common in most 
districts,, frequenting gardens, orchards, and woods, feeding on 
insects, larvae, seeds, and various other substances. In win- 
ter it is often seen about farm-yards, doors, and dunghills, 
Male, 61 10, 3 
Female, 9if, 
107. Parus coeruleus. Blue Tit. 
