Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.
GEEAT TIT.
PARUS MAJOR, Linn.
Parus major, Linn. S. N. i. p. 341 (1766) ; Naum. iv. p. 9 ;
Hewitson, i. p. 149 ; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 479 ; Dresser, iii.
p. 79.
Parus fringillago, Macg. ii. p. 425.
Mésange charbonnier, French ; Kohl-Meise, German ;
Quive-vive, Carpintero, Carbonero, Guerrero, Spanish.
This bird is so widely distributed throughout the
British Islands, so conspicuous in plumage, so noisy,
and so generally well known under various nicknames,
that I feel it almost unnecessary to go into details
concerning it. I have met with it in every part of
England, Scotland, and Ireland that I have visited,
but in many of these localities it would not be
recognized by its legitimate name. In our district of
Northamptonshire it is generally known as “ Blackcap ”
or “ Tom Tit,” and I have heard the names “ Ox-eye,”
“ Sawyer,” “ Saw-bird,” and “ Billy-biter” applied to
it elsewhere. It is a lively, restless bird, very quarrelsome
and bold. I know of many instances of its
killing and picking out the brains of small birds, and