Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
think he must have meant my pretty green lintie. In 
Germany he is the millet-bird ( Hirsenvogel ) and also 
Grunfink , greenfinch. In Italy he is the Verdone , and in 
Spain Verdecillo , the “little green one.” There are blue and 
yellow saucy little tits too ; several kinds of tits hereabouts, 
marsh-tits, great tit and long-tailed tit ; the most common 
is the blue tit, called Bluecap and Oxeye. There is an old 
song, called “ Lennox’s Love to Blantyre,” where Bluecap is 
mentioned as the lover of Jenny Wren. 
" Where’s the ring I gae thee 
Of yellow gowd sae fine ? ’ ’ 
“ I gae’t to my love Oxee, 
A true sweetheart of mine.” 
The great titmouse is said to eat bees, but I have never 
been lucky enough to see him do it. It seems, he taps at 
the hive-door, and when the poor bees hurry out to see 
what is the matter he snaps them up. Gardener says 
swallows and sparrows do the same, and mice also. Here 
is a delightful old ballad, dating back to 1575: 
I have a pretty Tytmouse 
Come picking at my to 
Gossip with you I purpose 
To drink before I go. 
The Italian name is Cinci allegro, ; the Spanish, Alionin ; 
and the German, Meise. Wordsworth’s description of the 
titmouse as a harlequin is so pretty, in the “Kitten and the 
Falling Leaves,” I must note it here. 
Lithest, gaudiest Harlequin ! 
Prettiest tumbler ever seen, 
Light of heart and light of limb, 
What is now become of him ? 
Where is he, that giddy sprite ? 
Bluecap, with all his feathers bright, 
Who was blest as bird could be ; 
Feeding on the apple-tree, 
Made such wanton spoil and rout, 
Turning blossoms inside out, 
Hung with head towards the ground, 
Fluttered, perched into a round, 
Bound himself, and then unbound. 
34 
