THE ROBIN--THE TITIMOUSE. 261

the Blue Titmouse, the Great Titmouse, and the Long-tailed
Titmouse are some of these. The Blue Titmouse, sometimes
called a Tomtit, is a plucky little bird and resists capture
with such vigour that according to the Rev. J. G. Wood it has
become known to rustic boys by the name of “Billybiter.”
“The angry hiss of the female,” says Mr. Wood, “has fre-
quently caused an intruding hand to be rapidly withdrawn, for
the sound is so exceedingly like the hiss of an irritated snake,
and the little beak is so sharp, that few have the courage to
proceed with their investigations. A pair of these birds built
their nest in the coping of the Great Western Railway, at
the Shrivenham station, not two feet from the fiery and
noisy engines, which were constantly passing. The men re-
spected the courage of the little birds, and the whole brood
was hatched, and suffered to fly at liberty.”

The Great Titmouse is found in various parts of Europe.
According to Mrs. Bowdich it is sufficiently pliable to roll
itself up in a ball, and is strong enough to crack a hazel nut.
She says, “It will plant itself at the door of a hive, and tap
loudly on the edge; which signal is answered by a sentinel
bee who is immediately snapped up, taken to the bough of
a tree where he is beaten to death, and then loses his head
and thorax; the rest of him being unworthy of the appetite
of his captor.” The Long-tailed Titmouse is famous for the
beauty, security and warmth of its nest.

The Golden The Golden Oriole deserves mention if only

Oriole. for its beautiful name; it has, however, other
claims to attention. It is found in Europe and Australia and
visits England occasionally during the summer, but is not
found in America. The male is a very handsome bird of a
golden yellow colour, with wings and tail of black, the
feathers of the latter ending in yellow. It lives on fruit and
berries, and, failing these, insects, and inhabits thickets and
wooded spots adjacent to orchards, upon which it commits
serious depredations.