90 BRITISH BIRDS 



much as the blue tit does to the pendent twigs of the birch. Its 

 food consists of small insects and their larvae, small molluscs, and 

 the seeds of the reeds. In autumn and winter it is gregarious, 

 three or four, or more, families uniting in a flock, and roaming from 

 reed-bed to reed-bed and from broad to broad. When disturbed, or 

 alarmed at the appearance of a hawk, they drop down into conceal- 

 ment among the reeds, but in a short time rise to the surface again, 

 climbing parrot-like up the slender stems. There are few birds 

 without a brilliant colouring that have so attractive an appearance 

 as the bearded tit, especially when seen flying just above the top of 

 tlio reeds, or when perched on a slender stem near its top, and 

 swayed to and fro by the' wind. Their alarm-note is harsh, but 

 they have a variety of calling and singing notes, which are somewhat 

 metallic in sound and very musical. A writer in Loudon's ' Maga- 

 zine of Natural History ' describes the bearded tits in flight as 

 • uttering in full chorus their sweetly musical notes ; it may be com- 

 pared to the music of very small cymbals, is clear and ringing, 

 though soft, and corresponds well with the delicacy and beauty of 

 the form and colour of the bird.' 



Tlie nest is made at the end of March or early in April, and is 

 placed on the ground, under a bush, or among the grass and herb- 

 age near tlie water. It is composed of leaves of reeds, bents, and 

 grass-blades, and lined with the fine fibres of the reed-tops. The 

 eggs are four to six in number, and sometimes eight ; they are white, 

 with a few minute specks, blotches, and lines of dark reddish 

 brown. 



Long-tailed Titmouse. 



Acredula rosea. 



Head, neck, throat, breast, and a portion of the outer tail-feathers 

 white ; back, wmgs, and six middle feathers of the tail black ; a 

 black streak above the eye ; sides of the back and scapulars tinged 

 with rosy red ; under parts reddish white. Tail very long ; beak 

 very short. Length, five inches and three-quarters. 



The long-tailed tit is the least of the titmice, and is only saved 

 from being described as the smallest British bird on account of its 

 loose plumage and long tail, which make it look a trifle more buU^y 

 than the golden-crested wren. In many of its habits, and to some 

 extent in its appearance, it resembles the typical tits, the five species 



