170 
GREATER TITMOUSE. 
The Greater Titmouse — Parus major, 
Will. — P. major, Will. Linn. Sfc. — La Grosse 
Messauge ou Cherboniere, Buff, Temm. 8,-c. 
— Greater Titmouse or Ox-eye of British 
authors . — There are a few birds which have 
something peculiarly marked and clean-looking 
in their plumage. These are most frequently 
aquatic in their habits, but our present species 
will vie with any of them, and from the distinct 
colours, and the decided contrast in which they 
are placed, always convey lively associations. 
The Greater Titmouse is also very generally dis- 
tributed over our islands ; but it is scarcely so 
common as the former, and has a more limited 
northern range. So far as we have observed, it 
seems to delight more in older timber, such as 
we find growing in some of the fine and extended 
parks of the south, than in the lower brushwood 
and younger plantations which the Blue Titmouse 
frequents : at the same time, it is by no means 
uncommon in gardens or orchards, and the vici- 
nity of dwellings ; it is active, but does not 
possess the very quick and constant motions of 
some of the smaller kinds. Its common note is 
loud and monotonous, very constantly repeated 
when alarmed ; during the season of pairing, that 
of the male is harsh and grating, resembling the 
noise produced by sharpening a saw ; it is now 
uttered for a considerable time from one station, 
chosen somewhat elevated, which is occasionally 
changed to a short distance, and the note of incu- 
