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158 The Great Tit. 

bles the male. Eggs pinkish-white, with rust-coloured 
spots. 
This bird begins to pair in February, and builds its 
nest in April. The nest is composed of moss and small 
pieces of dried grass, and made up with ‘other soft 
materials, such as feathers and wool. The Great Tit 
generally builds in a hole of a wall or tree, where it 
lays from seven to ten eggs. The young are blind for 
some little time after they are hatched. The reason 
why this bird is called “the great” is on account of its 
being so much larger than any other bird of the same 
name. It clings to walls and other rough substances 
when in search of its food—its head being in a perpen- 
dicular line with its tail—by the aid of its hind claw, 
which is very strong and hooked. Its food consists of 
caterpillars and chrysalides ; it is also very partial to 
ripe fruit, such as apples and pears; and it is said 
that the Great Tit will pay frequent visits to filbert- 
stems and walnut trees, and crack them in crevices 
of the bark with its beak by repeated blows. When 
this bird is punished by hunger, it shows a bold and 
determined spirit, and will attack birds superior in size 
