or Titmouse, in ornithology, a genus belonging to the order of passerines. The bill is very entire, covered at the basis with hairs; the tongue is truncated and hairy. There are 14 species; of which the most remarkable are,

1. The crissatus, or crested titmouse, weighs 13 pennyweight; the bill is black, with a spot of the same colour above it; all the upper part of the body gray; the neck and under parts are white, with a faint tincture of red, which is deepest just below the wings. The legs are of a lead colour. It erects its crown feathers into a crest. It inhabits the warm parts of North America; and frequents forest-trees, feeding upon insects.

2. The major, or great titmouse, has the head and throat black, the cheeks white, the back of a green colour, the belly yellowish green, divided in the middle by a bed of black which extends to the vent; the rump of a bluish grey, the legs of a lead colour, the toes divided to the very origin, and the back-toe very large and strong. This species sometimes visits our gardens; but for the most part inhabits woods, where it builds in hollow trees, laying about ten eggs. It feeds on insects, which it finds in the bark of trees. In the spring they do a great deal of mischief by picking off the tender buds of the fruit-trees. Like woodpeckers, they are perpetually running up and down the bodies of trees in quest of food. This bird has three cheerful notes, which it begins to utter in the month of February.

3. The ceeruleus, or blue titmouse, is a very beautiful bird. The bill is short and dusky; the crown of the head of a fine blue; from the bill to the eyes is a black line; the forehead and cheeks white; the back, of a yellowish green; the lower side of the body yellow; the wings and tail blue, the former marked transversely with a white bar; the legs of a lead colour. They frequent gardens; and do great injury to fruit-trees, by bruising the tender buds in search of the insects which lie under them. It breeds in holes of walls, and lays 12 or 14 eggs.

4. The virginianus, or yellow rump, is found in Virginia; and is distinguished by a yellow spot on its rump. All the rest of the feathers are brown, with a slight tincture of green. It runs about the bodies of trees; and feeds on insects, which it pecks from the crevices of the bark.

5. The caudatus, or long-tailed titmouse, is about five inches and a quarter in length, and seven inches in breadth. The bill is black, very thick and convex, differing from all others of this genus. The top of the head, from the bill to the hind part, is white, mixed with a few dark-grey feathers; this bed of white is entirely surrounded with a broad stroke of black; which rising on each side of the upper mandible, passes over each eye, unites at the hind part of the head, and continues along the middle of the back to the rump. The feathers on each side of this black stroke are of a purplish red, as are those immediately incumbent on the tail. The tail is the longest, in proportion to the bulk, of any British bird, being in length three inches, the form not unlike that of a magpie, consisting of 12 feathers of unequal lengths, the middlemost the longest, those on each side growing gradually shorter. These birds are often seen passing through our gardens, going from one tree to another, as if in their road to some other place, never making any halt. They make their nests with great elegance, of an oval shape, and about eight inches deep, having near the upper end a hole for admission. The external materials are mosses and lichens curiously interwoven with wool. On the inside it is very warmly lined with a thick bed of feathers. The female lays from 10 to 17 eggs. The young follow their parents the whole winter; and, from the slimness of their bodies, and great length of tail, appear, while flying, like as many darts cutting the air.

6. The bariamicus, or bearded titmouse, has a short, strong, and very convex bill, of a box colour; the head of a fine grey; the chin and throat white; the middle of the breast flesh-coloured; the sides and thighs of a pale orange; the hind part of the neck and back of orange bay; the tail is two inches and three quarters long; the legs of a deep shining black. The female wants the flesh-colour on the breast, and a triangular tuft of black feathers on each side the bill which adorn the male. They are found in marshy places.