Identifier: historyofbritish01morr (find matches)
Title: A history of British birds. By the Rev. F.O. Morris ..
Year: 1862 (1860s)
Authors: Morris, F. O. (Francis Orpen), 1810-1893
Subjects: Birds
Publisher: London, Groombridge and Sons
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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this country at least, the Oxeyestands, gives it as his opinion, that the family of the Titmiceis allied to that of the Jays; and there is certainly some sortof cousin-germanship between them. The gay party-colour of this species—the chief of its clan—makes it a great ornament to our country. It is abundantin wooded districts; less so in others. It is common in Russia, Holland, and Italy, and variousother countries of Europe, as far north as Norway, Sweden,and Siberia, and is also said to be met with in Africa, nearthe Cape of Good Hope; as well as in Asia Minor, where ithas been seen by my friend, Hugh Edwin Strickland, Esq.In England, Ireland, and Scotland, it is plentiful. The Oxeye remains with us all the year round, but evidentlymakes partial migrations, whether caused simply by the questof food or no, I know not. One has been met with half-wayacross the Atlantic. Mr. Hewitson has well observed of the Titmice, that theyare perfect mountebanks j it making no difference to them
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GREAT TIT. GREAT TIT. 191 in their gambols and antics whether their heads or their heelsare uppermost. This species, however, is less of a Harlequin,except in plumage, than some of its congeners. It is a boldand courageous bird, and bites vigorously if captured. Inconfinement it becomes tolerably tame; and even in its wildstate will come to the window-sill for crumbs of bread. Othersmaller birds frequent its vicinity without any apparent fear,notwithstanding its occasional destructive propensities, but itattacks them furiously if they advance against its nest. Morethan two or three of this species are seldom seen together,nor does it associate much with its generic relatives. Onewhich Bemck kept, used to rest at night on the bottom ofthe cage. It is not at all a shy bird. The flight of the Oxeye is usually short—from tree to tree,performed by a repeated flutter of the wings; but if its travelbe farther it is somewhat undulated. Its food consists principally of insects, small caterpi

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