245 



kind known as indescribable. My jaw fell like a 

 signal flag, and Uie three queens, as they steered 

 King Arthur to Avilion, could have afforded no sadder 

 pageant than I was that morning as I studied that 

 letter. 



Some day of course I hope to replace him. Why 

 do we always hope over the possible? Why does a 

 cat waste time sitting at a mouse-hole? Because she 

 knows the mouse is there and hopes it will come out 

 presently. I know that nn'- mouse exists somewhere, 

 perhaps someday he will come my way. 



Meanwhile I can only write a few notes for the 

 guidance of those who may be luck}' enough hereafter 

 to obtain Parus sibericus. I will first of all, for the 

 benefit of our members, briefly describe them. 



The Siberian Tit is an inhabitant of the Northern 

 parts of Europe and Asia. The upper surface of the 

 })ird is a deep ash color, the quills, secondaries, and 

 tail feathers edged with white; throat black; upper 

 part of the chest white, under part greyish white; 

 slightly rufous on the flanks ; bill and tarsi lead color ; 

 crown of the head black. The birds in marking 

 remind me very much of the English Blackcap or the 

 American Cat-bird. Tlie cock has rather a pretty 

 song, and sings at the end of a bough, waving his 

 tail from side to side. The hen is much smaller in 

 every wa\% and the spot on her chin is less than in the 

 cock, and her wings are not so clearl}^ edged with 

 white. 



Siberian Tits are exceedingly friendly little birds 

 and soon become perfectly tame, and will at an\' time 

 take live food from the fingers. Like all Tits they 

 run and climb among the branches in all sorts of 

 strange positions. I feed mine on my own soft 

 mixture, but they require also a regular supply of 

 live food. They are inordinately fond of maggots, 

 and a good mealworm will send them wild with 



