THE TITS. 
{Parida.) 
!HE Titmice, a widely distributed family, are 
perhaps best known by the Blue Titmouse, 
which is so trustful, engaging, and impudent a bird, 
that even the least observant is struck with its habits 
and appearance. They are for the most part small, active, 
twittering birds, the name “ tit ” seeming to refer to their 
ceaseless chatter, and “mouse,” whether strictly belonging to a 
more recondite root or not, at all events sufficiently indicating the 
creeping, curious nature of the bird. The bill is short, straight, 
and rather conical ; the hind toe strong, and armed with a stout 
hooked claw, and of the anterior toes the outer is longer than the 
inner. The feet being also very strongly made, the Tits are able 
to suspend themselves with facility in any posture, and to detect 
the small insects, seeds, grains, and the like which form the staple 
of their food. The Continent possesses several species unknown in 
Great Britain, such as the Sombre Tit, and the Azure Tit; but 
our own fauna contains six very interesting kinds. It is easy for 
a country dweller and well worth his trouble to discriminate between 
these as their singular habits will often enliven a winter walk which 
mio-ht otherwise prove dull and devoid of objects to attract atten- 
Before describing these more particularly, it will be well to introduce 
them by the excellent observations of White of Selborne. “ Every species of 
tion. 
