The BLUE TIT (_Parus cæruleus_) is bluish green on the back, and blue on
the head, wings, and tail, while the under side is yellow; a white line
passes from the brow to the nape, and a narrow bluish black line divides
the white cheeks from the dark head; the throat is encircled by a blue
band; the quills are slate-black, the hinder ones sky-blue on the outer
web and white at the tip; the tail-feathers are greyish blue. The eye is
dark brown, the beak black, with white margins, and the foot lead-grey.
The female is less beautifully coloured than her mate, and the young
somewhat paler. This species is four inches and a half long and seven
and a half broad; the wing measures two inches and a third, and the tail
about two inches.
The Blue Tits are met with over a greater extent of country than any
other member of their family. In Europe they are dispersed over the
entire continent, from its most northern latitude to the extreme south;
in Northern Africa and Eastern Asia they are replaced by a very similar
species. In Great Britain, where they are extremely common, they frequent
gardens, groves, or orchards, and have been popularly supposed to do
considerable damage by pecking at the buds of fruit trees; it is much
more likely, however, that these active little visitants to our orchards,
when they seem thus employed, are busily engaged in rendering us an
important service, by clearing off the insects and grubs that infest
the blossoms sometimes in such large numbers as would seriously injure
the crops. "This species," says Mudie, "is perhaps more incessant than
any other bird in hunting the buds and branches of trees, especially of
fruit trees near houses, for its insect prey; but it will eat any animal
matter either in a recent or putrid state, and it appears to scent animal
remains at a considerable distance, as it hovers about slaughter-houses,
dog-kennels, and other places where there are scraps of carrion. It also
haunts the neighbourhood of houses, and picks bones, eats bits of fat,
or any refuse it can find, and, when opportunity favours, will even
kill other birds by striking them on the head, and then picks their
bones as clean as if they were cleared by the thousand inhabitants of an
ant-hill. Dead birds are, of course, lawful prize, for which it searches
under trees and hedges after severe weather. It is, in short, a very
omnivorous bird, and plays the scavenger with equal diligence and grace.
It is also very bold and familiar, and will alight among the poultry in
the farm-yard or amid the dogs in the kennel; nor does it much heed the
presence of people even under the trees upon which it is hunting." So
strong is the liking of the Blue Tit for fat, that Gilbert White tells us
that he has known as many as twenty caught in one morning with a common
snap mouse-trap, baited with tallow or suet.
"When the Blue Tit," says Yarrell, "has taken possession of a hole in a
wall or decayed tree, she is not readily induced to quit it, but defends
her nest and eggs with great courage and perseverance, puffing out her
feathers and hissing like an angry kitten; in some counties, indeed, she
goes by the name of 'Billy Biter' among bird-nesting boys, from a vivid
remembrance of certain impressions on their fingers. A female that had
taken possession of a small wooden box hung up against an out-building,
into which she had carried abundance of material for her nest, and in
the midst of which she was then sitting upon her numerous eggs, allowed
herself to be carried into a house for examination, and when the box was
replaced in its former situation, did not desert her eggs, but hatched
them and reared her young."
The nest is generally built in a hole in some tree, in many instances
excavated by the building birds themselves; and frequent and fierce are
the battles that take place between the different couples, relative to
the possession of a particularly desirable spot. Within this cavity, a
comfortable bed of hair, moss, or feathers is arranged for the reception
of the eggs, eight or ten in number, which are white, with spots of
rust-red, and about seven lines and a half long, and six in diameter.
Sometimes this bird selects very whimsical situations for a nest. Bishop
Stanley, in his "Familiar History of Birds," relates that "A pair of
Titmice (_Parus cæruleus_) built their nest in the upper part of an old
pump, fixing it on the pin on which the handle worked. It happened that
during the time of building and laying the eggs the pump had not been in
use; when again set going the female was sitting, and it was naturally
supposed that the motion of the pump-handle would drive her away. The
young brood were, however, hatched safely, without any other misfortune
than the loss of a part of the tail of the sitting bird, which was rubbed
off by the friction of the pump-handle. The opening for a pump-handle
seems, indeed, to be a favourite spot, notwithstanding its danger, as
we knew of another pair of Titmice, who for several days persevered
in inserting, close upon the point of the handle, the materials for a
nest, though every time the handle was raised they were either crushed
or forced out, till the patience of the persevering little builders was
fairly exhausted."
In the "Journal of a Naturalist" is the following interesting notice
of the Blue Tit:--"I was lately exceedingly pleased in witnessing the
maternal care and intelligence of this bird; the poor thing had its young
ones in the hole of a wall, and the nest had been nearly all drawn out
of the crevice by the paw of a cat, and part of its brood devoured. In
re-visiting its home the bird discovered some of its nestlings still
alive, though wrapped up and hidden in the tangled moss and feathers of
their bed, and it then drew the whole of the nest back into the place
from whence it had been taken, unrolled and re-settled the remaining
little ones, fed them with the usual attentions, and finally succeeded
in rearing them. The parents of even this reduced family laboured with
great perseverance to supply the wants of their progeny, one or other of
them bringing a grub, caterpillar, or some insect, at intervals of less
than a minute during the day, and probably in the earlier part of the
morning more frequently. Now if we allow that they brought food to the
hole every minute for fourteen hours, and provided for their own wants
also, it will admit, perhaps, a total of a thousand grubs a day for
the requirements of one, and that a diminished brood, and afford some
adequate comprehension of the infinite number requisite for the summer
nutriment of our soft-billed birds, and the great distances gone over by
such as have young ones, in their numerous trips from hedge to tree in
the hours specified when they have full broods to support."
"In winter," says Macgillivray, "the Blue Tit may be occasionally seen
about the farm yard, where it finds, when other food fails, a supply of
oat or wheat seeds, which it jerks from their husks with its wedge-like
bill. It also frequents the doors and dunghills, to pick up a bit of
suet, or nibble a morsel of flesh; and where carrion is kept, it is often
seen to help itself to a share. Often, at this season too, you may find
it clinging to a wall, and digging at the loose plaster, to get at the
insects or pupæ concealed behind. It will even make occasional excursions
into the stubble near hedges or woods; and, in short, being in a manner
omnivorous, it manages to get through the cold part of the year as well
as its neighbours. It is accused of attacking other small birds, and
splitting their skulls, but I have neither seen it do so, nor met with
any other person who has; and we know how, when any assertion of the
kind, however incredible, has been made, all the ornithologists catch the
cry. It reposes in holes in walls, or among ivy, and seems to suffer less
in severe frosts than most birds."
The song of the Blue Tits is a most insignificant performance, and their
call-note a single shrill chirp. In other respects, however, they are
in no respect inferior to other members of their family. In disposition
they are lively, bold, and adventurous, and, were they a little larger,
would probably assail enemies twice their own size, at whom they can,
as it is, only ruffle up their feathers, and express, by vehement pecks
and gesticulations, the pugnacious inclinations they cannot otherwise
indulge. During the spring they live in pairs, in the summer in families,
and in autumn associate in large flocks before commencing their winter
excursions. Naumann tells us that previous to setting forth, these flocks
assemble upon the tops of trees, calling incessantly to one another,
as though each wished to induce its companions to set the example by
commencing the unwonted flight. One after another rises into the air
and makes a start, but finding that the rest have not resolution to
follow, at once returns to his former perch, until at last all take
flight simultaneously; but even when once fairly off, a mere trifle,
such as a hat thrown upwards, will often cause them to drop heavily and
precipitately to the ground. This unusual behaviour proceeds from the
terror with which they regard the approach of any bird of prey, as they
are well aware that in flying over any open country their inferior powers
of wing place them completely at the mercy of such assailants. For this
reason, when journeying to any distance, the flocks of Blue Tits usually
rise to a great height before proceeding on their perilous journey.