A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.
- George Montagu
- Date:
- 1866
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.
384/440 page 356
![so plentiful a species as the Marsh, keeps more in woods, and seems to live entirely on insects, as we have never been able to discover it partaldng of flesh or grain with the other species; its note is also difler- ent. Supplement. — Lest any spai-k of scep- ticism should still exist with respect to the distinction between this and the Marsh Titmouse (Parus palustris), it may be proper to remark that we have re- l^eatedly taken the nests of both species, auil have invariably noticed the distinction of the conspicuous white spot on the head of both sexes of the ater; and in no in- stance had either sex of the palustris that mai-k. Last summer [lal:J] a pair of these birds had taken possession of a hole in the garden wall, which gave an oppor- tunity of examining both the old birds and the young, and we observed that all the young had the appearance of the mark on the head before they could tly, but not so pure a white as in the adults. These were put into a cage, and were fed by the old birds ; and it was noticed that their inincipal food was little green caterpillars. Titmouse, Crested. — [ Yarrell, i. 391 ; Hewitson, xxxix. 154.] Parus cristatus, Lin. Syst. i. p. 340, tl; Gmcl. Syst. ii. p. 1005 ; Eaii Syn. p. 74, (i; Will. p. 175, t. 43; Ind. Oiii. ii. p. 507, 14; Bris. iii. p. 558, 8 ; II). 8vo, i. i). 400 ; Lath. Syn. Siq). ii. p. 255. La Mesange Inippe, Buf. v. i>. 447. Crested Titmouse, Arct. Zool. ii. p. 427, E.; Will. Anyl. p. 242, t. 43; Albin, ii. t. 57 ; Lath. Syn. iv. p. 545, 12 ; Don. Br. Birds, ii. t. 20 ; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 250. —The weight of this species is about two drams and a half; length four inches tbree-quaiters. The bill is dusky; iiides hazel. Forehead and crown white, prettily undulated with black lines; on the hind- bead the feathers are very long and black, which the bird erects in fomi of a conic crest; cheeks dirty white, sxjotted with black; a black stroke crosses the cheek under the eye, which turns back in an acute angle under the eai’, forming the letter V ; behind that is a bed of white surrounding the cheeks, ;and bounded ex- ternally by a black edge, which forms a ]i(ak on the hind-head, and also joins the black on tlie throat and chin ; the back is greenish brown; breast and belly pale bntf; wings and fail much like the back, but dee])cr coloured ; legs bluish lead- colour. The Crested Titmouse is a solitiuy retiied species, inhabits only the gloomy forest, imrticulaiiy those which abound with evngreens. It has not been found in South Britain, but is not unconinion amongst the large tracts of pines in the north of Scotland, puiticularly in the I'orest of Glenmoor, the property of the Duke of Gordon, from whence wo have seen it. The eggs ai-e said to be white, with small spots of red; the nest we do not find to be desciibecl by any one. Is said to be found in Normandy, and in many parts between that and Sweden. Supplement. — In the work refen-ed to [Lath. Syn. Sup.] the author says, “ We have heard of this species being plentiful in some parts of Scotland, especially in the xfiue forests, from whence I have received a specimen now in my pos- session.” Titmouse, Great.—[ Yarrell, i. 383; Hew- itson, xxxix. 149.] Parus major, Lin. Syst. i. p. 341, 3 ; Gniel. Syst. ii. j). 1000 ; Baii Sijn. p. 73, A. 1; Will. p. 174, t. 43 ; Ind. Cm. ii. p. 502, 1; Bris. iii. p. 539, 1; 76. 8vo, i. p. 401. La grosse Mesange, ou Charbonuiere, 71m/. v. p. 392, t. 17. Great Titmouse, or Ox-eye, Br..Zool. i. No. 102 ; 76. fol. 113, t. W. f. 4; Arct. Zool. ii. p. 425, A.; Will. Anyl. p. 240, t. 43 ; Albin, i. t. 40; Hayes, Br. Birds, t. 38; Lath. Syn. iv. xi. 530, 1; Don. Br. Birds, t. 09 ; Lewin, Br. Birds, iii. t. 117; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 244; Bult. Cat. Dorset. p.TO. Pro- vincial : Great Black - headed Tomtit; Blackcaxi.— This species weighs about ten drams; length five inches and three- quarters. The bill is black; irides dusky. The head and throat black; cheeks white; back olive-green; the rump bluish grey ; belly yellow, tinged with green, divided down the middle to the vent by a broad black list, most conspicuous in the male; quill-feathers dusky; coverts bluish, the larger tipped with white ; tail dusky; the outer feathers white on the exteidor webs, the others margined with bluish grey; legs lead-colour. The Great Titmouse has all the habits of the Blue Titmouse. The nest is made of moss, lined with hair, placed in the hole of a wall or tree. We once found it in the barrel of a gai'den-xnimx). It lays sometimes as many ns eight eggs, but more commonly six, white, spotted with rust- colour, which are so exactly like tliose of the Nuthatch as not to be distinguished; their weight about thirtj' grains. We have known this bird deposit its eggs in the hole of a decayed ti'ee uxron the rotten wood, without the least npxienrance of a nest: xii'obably the nest had heen de- stroyed just at the lime the bird was com- pelled to lay, and had not time to make another. The common note of this bird is a sort of chatter, but in the spring it assumes a greater vai-iety, a slirill whistle, and a very singtilar noise, something like the whetting of a saw; but these cease witli incubation. It is a common species in almost every part of England, as well](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28089935_0384.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
