OF BIRDS. 
179 
In our gardens they are confidered as very de- 
ftrmSHve, not only injuring the young buds of 
trees, but taking off the fruit with lingular ad- 
drefs, which they carry to their magazine. 
Fruit, however, is not the only food of the Blue 
Titmoufe, like other birds of the fame family; it 
feeds on infedts and carrion, and upon the dead 
bodies of little birds : it takes oft’ their flefh w’ith 
fo much exa&nefs, that it has been propofed to 
o-ive them their little carcaffes to anatomife. This 
minute bird is remarkable for the courage, indeed 
the fury, with which it aflaults the owl. 
It does not always, (like mod of the Titmoufe 
genus), pierce hempfeed with the point of its 
bill, but fometimes breaks them between the man¬ 
dibles. 
The female makes her neft in holes of walls, or 
trees, warmly lined with feathers, and lays from 
eight to twenty eggs. She is fuppofed to lay but 
once in a feafon, unlefs fire has been induced to 
forfake her firft neft, and this ftte is very apt to 
do, if the eggs be touched ; but when once the 
young are hatched, fhe defends them with great 
courage. 
In the winter they frequent the neighbourhood 
j ofhoufes, with others of their genus, but with¬ 
out any appearance of union, or attachment. 
FI 6 Though 
