[Illustration]
Parus cæruleus, LINNÆUS; La Mésange bleue, BUFFON; Der
Blaumeise, BECHSTEIN.
This pretty bird is four inches and a half long, of which the tail
measures two. The beak is three lines in length, and dusky, but whitish
at the edges and tip; the iris is dark brown; the shanks are eight lines
high, and lead blue; the front of the head and cheeks are white; a white
line passing from the forehead above the eyes forms a border to the fine
sky-blue of the top of the head; a black line crosses the eyes; the
black of the throat becomes on the sides of the neck a dark blue band,
which surrounds the head.
The female is rather smaller than the male, the streaks about the head
not being so clearly defined, while the blue has the appearance of being
tinged with ash grey. The line down the under part of the body is
scarcely observable.
HABITATION.--These birds, in their wild state, frequent woods,
particularly those of beech and oak. During autumn and winter they
wander from one place to another, and are often seen in considerable
numbers in our orchards.
In the house they may be kept in a cage like the oxeye; but it is
preferable to let them hop and flutter about at pleasure, as their
plumage is then seen to the greatest advantage. They are as
mischievous and quarrelsome as the oxeye, and pursue the other birds
in the same manner, even killing them when they are strong enough.
FOOD.--When wild they feed on insects and their grubs, and in autumn
on berries[112].
In the house they should be given the same food as the oxeye,
accustoming them to it at first by mixing bruised hemp-seed with it.
They like to wash themselves.
BREEDING.--The nest, placed at the top of a tree in an old hollow
branch, is built of moss, hair, and feathers. This species lays from
eight to ten reddish white eggs, speckled and spotted with brown. The
plumage of the young birds differs from that of the older ones, only
in being less bright and glossy.
DISEASES.--Most of these birds that are caught in winter, are attacked
with vertigo, or giddiness, after being in the house a few days, fall
to the right and left, and being unable to find their food, soon die.
MODE OF TAKING.--They may be caught in the same way as the oxeye.
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--The blue tit is easily tamed, and lives two or
three years. Its beauty and activity are more attractive than its
song, which is merely an indistinct warbling, composed of a few
strains, amongst which some higher notes are occasionally introduced.