History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

80 BIRDS. PASSERES. Pauus-Gen. XLI. PARUS.edced.Titmouse.— Bill short, pointed, sharpNostrils concealed in deflected hairs and feathers.89. P- major. Great Titmouse or Ox-Eye. — The head,neck, and middle line of the belly black ;the cheeks white.Fringillago, seu Parus major, Will. Orn. 174 —P. m. Sibb. Scott. 18.Linn. Syst.i. 341. Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 390. Temm. Orn. i. 287W, Y-Benloyn-fwyaf.— In woods and gardens.Length 6, breadth 9 inches ; weight 10 drams. Bill black; tongue endingin four filaments. Legs lead-grey. Irides dusky. Back olive-green. Bumpand wing-coverts grey, the latter tipped with blue. Quills greenish-grey,with pale edges.Sides of the belly yellowish-white. Tail dusky, outer featherwhite on the exterior web ; under tail-coverts white. In the' female, theblack on the head, and the yellow on the sides are less bright, and the blackline does not reach the whole length of the belly. Nest in the hole of a treeor wall, of moss lined with hair.Eggs from G to 8, white, with—rusty spots.The food consists of seeds, insects, and carrion—Seldom frequents exposedsituations.£0. P. ater. Colemouse.— Head, neck, and upper breastblack ;cheeks and nape white.Will. Orn. 175. Linn. Syst.i. 341. Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 392. Temm..Orn. i. 288 W, Y-Benloyn-lygliw ; G, Cailcheag-chean-dubh Inwoods.Length 4-^, breadth 7 inches ;weight 2 drams. Bill black. Irides hazel.Legs lead-grey. Plumage above greyish ; belly yellowish-white. Covers ofthe secondaries, and those above, tipped with white, forming two bars acrossthe wing. Female with the white on the cheeks less extended. Nest in holesof old trees near the ground, of moss lined with hair.Eggs 6 or 8, with reddishspots. Food like the former.— This species seems rare in England. InScotland it is common in woods.91. P- palustris. Marsh-Titmouse.— Head, neck, and throatblack ; cheeks yellowish-white.Will. Orn. 175. Linn. Syst.i. 341. Penn. Brit. Zool. i. 393. Temm.Orn. i. 291— E, Little black-headed Tomtit, Blackcap ; W, Penloynyeyrs.—In woods in England.Length 4\, breadth 8 inches ;weight 3 drams. Bill dusky; irides hazel.Legs lead-grey. Plumage, above, yellowish-grey; beneath brownish-white.Quills and tail bluish-grey, with pale margins. Female with the black on thehead less dull, and the throat is spotted with grey. Nest in holes of trees, ofmoss, lined with thistle or willow down. Eggs from G to 8, white, with brownspots This species which is common in England, frequenting brushwood inmoist situations, has been confounded with the preceding, from which it differs,in wanting the white on the back of the head, and the two white bars onthe wings in ;being of a larger size, and in having the tail longer.92. P. cceraleus. Blue Titmouse.— Crown blue, with a whiteborder ;cheeks white, with a dark blue border.Wilt. Orn. 175. Sibb. Scot. 18. Lin. Svst. i. 341. Penn. Brit. Zool. i.391. Temm. Orn. i. 289— E, Nun, Tomtit, Hickmall, Blue-cap, Titmall,Tinnock, Willow-biter ; S, Ox-eye ; W, Y Lleian.Length 44, breadth 8 inches ;weight 3 drams. Bill dusky ; legs, leadgrey.A black line extends from the gape across the eyes to the hind-head.