P A R U S
PARUS ATER
Coal Tit.
Parus ater, Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 34!.
— atricapillus, Briss. Om., torn. iii. p.. 551.
carbonarius, Pall. Zoogr., torn. i. p. 556.
Facile ater, Katip, Naturl. Syst., p. 114.
I c a n n o t agree with some o f m y cotemporaries when they state th a t this bird is !cs
British Islands than the Marsh- or Blue T its ; for my own experience tel is me that ii
abundant than the former, if not as numerous as the latter. Mr. Rodd states that it
woods o f Cornwall, particularly in those o f the eastern parts o f that county. Mr. i
abundant in all the pine-forests o f Scotland. Thompson, in his ‘ Birds of Ireland, spe;
distribution over that island; and I may affirm from my own observation, that in Engla
what localities are visited, or what situations are rambled over, whether it be the wood,
shrubbery, there will the bird be found. Everywhere, however, it evinces a preference for
beech and oak, to the topmost outlying branches o f which trees it habitually resorts, and
graceful actions, flitting or fluttering from spray to spray, peering beneath the leaves, an
elegant positions to the very extremities o f the tender shoots—the ornamental patch a
offering a conspicuous contrast to the black o f the head and neck. Its ev en move«
with those o f the other members of the genus, and it is as graceful in all jj._ uptHma as i
pert and lively.
On the continent o f Europe, all the countries, from the McdttemneoB ¿v Sweden and
it in their avi-fauna. It certainly proceed* ;»■ fits eg*) h eke ^ JVnnaiit stat<
Siberia, which is very probable, as Captain ¡»a> m t hroiighi a bird from Nn
exhibits no perceptible specific differences; io mh, however we have no rrm i
has ever been found in the Himalayas or in the iteouisula India. As tbc Blue Tit I I
representative in North Africa in the P. nllramarinut, so ha* the present species in tin
representative species, which live between the great Atlas range* and the sen are very in
found that the young o f the P . ater has yellow cheeks and irapc. anil that this colour h \
over the abdomen; in the P. Ledoucii this colouring is characteristic of the adults • and il
species closely assimilates to the old of'the o th e r; no ornithologist will, however, doubt
ness o f P. ater and P. Ledoucii.
There is no perceptible difference in the colouring of the sexes; but they are »ubuvt
change, the colours in summer and winter not being alike. In January the bark is olive
grey, and the general hues o f the plumage are much darker than in winter. Some differ*
specimens from Germany and those killed in the British Islands; the bird* from the f
probably those from all other parts of the Continent, are o f larger size aw) s o w i n c h *■ ■ di
In winter, the food of the Coal Tit consists o f insects of various kinds m ever*
from the larva to the imago state ; h summer, flies, aphides, eve« tDtenNlho, Ac., ftp wti
seeds, berries, and the kernels of such stone fruits as it can open with its httle •'¡»met)
during the time they are in the nest, are fed entirely upon insects: after they art able i
own livelihood, they capture them for themselves, and, as may be readily °ummt»fd. a In
o f these prying and active little creatures must devour many thousands every hour while
in winter, their insect food is sought for in the curicd-up leaves, tbc crevices of the fork <
situations; spiders, in particular, fall a prey to tbc Coal Tit at this season
A more than usually .severe winter is likely to drive tbc bird to more 4MH0MfVi *h#*e
applies to the Continental individuals rather than to our ow n ; for, however severe >4
bird in this country holds its own.
A nest taken at Formosa in Berkshire, on the 21st o f Hay, 1000, was surubnrh tlueh
suring a t least an inch and a half through. The materials of which it was cowmhmO
usual layered appearance, but seemed to be thoroughly matted o r felted together fl
mainly constructed o f wool, cows’ hair, and a few downy iVathers; the ontvifr ww» fl
Another nest taken on the 17th o f May, 18411, from m MMRnwrhuoar to dw «oafe «
similar felted appearance, the various materials of rhm^ hoc ■ aod « o d hrhut -v0
the coppie»,
extensive n
I there di«]