. Birds of Britain . off by this gay-plumaged marauder. True, he isseeking the insect contained in the bud, but in that searchit is not to be denied that many an unaffected bud has tosuffer. Woods and orchards are his chief haunts, butgardens are frequently visited, and if nest-boxes with smallholes be hung up on the trees round the house he and hismate may often be induced to hatch and rear their familyunder our protection and observation. In spring his saw-sharpening note becomes elaborated into a merry little song,and he proceeds in company with his mate to choose anesting-site—this is alwa
. Birds of Britain . off by this gay-plumaged marauder. True, he isseeking the insect contained in the bud, but in that searchit is not to be denied that many an unaffected bud has tosuffer. Woods and orchards are his chief haunts, butgardens are frequently visited, and if nest-boxes with smallholes be hung up on the trees round the house he and hismate may often be induced to hatch and rear their familyunder our protection and observation. In spring his saw-sharpening note becomes elaborated into a merry little song,and he proceeds in company with his mate to choose anesting-site—this is always in a hole in a wall or tree, oreven in a letter-box; the cavity within may be fairly large,but the entrance thereto is often very small—ridiculously sofor the size of the bird. The nest is a large accumulationof moss, the whole space being filled up level and a little cup-like hollow being sunk in part of it. About ten eggs, whitewith a few reddish-brown blotches, are laid. The hen bird 76 GREAT TITParus major. The Coal Tit sits very closely and vigorously pecks at any intruding period of incubation is very short, being only from tento twelve days, and the young, which are fed almostexclusively on insects, leave their home in about a fortnight,and wander in small parties through the woods and lanes forthe rest of the year. The sexes are alike in plumage. The whole of the head,chin, throat, and a median line running down the breast areof a glossy blue black; cheeks white; mantle yellowisholive, prolonged forwards to end in a light spot on the nape ;wing coverts and tail bluish grey, quills darker. Underparts greenish yellow. Length 5-75 in.; wing 28 5 in. The young are somewhat paler, but otherwise resembletheir parents. A common resident throughout the whole country, exceptthe extreme north. THE COAL TIT Parus ater, Linnteus The Coal Tit is often found as a near neighbour of theBlue Tit, but is never so abundant and familiar. It prefersclumps of trees bordering
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