8 



The Bearded Tit is even a better hand than an 

 old cock Blackbird in finding cover — and keeping it. 

 No matter hovi' you try to dodge him, he will always 

 have something between you an 1 his person. Unless 

 you have tried personally to catch him in the aviary, 

 you have never realized how much good cover there 

 is in an elder bush or even a few bare pea sticks. 



I was reading a book on Birds the other day, and, 

 atient Bearded Tits, I came across the following 

 cheering sentence : ' These birds will not breed in 

 confinement ; in fact they can only be kept alive in 

 health by exercising great care, and giving a frequent 

 change of diet.' — Well, nous verrons ! as the French 

 say. At all events, I can keep them alive ! 



H IPehin auD ber aMnircre. 



By S. M. TOWNSEND. 



r^ OME time ago I had a Persian Bulbul, who shared 

 ^^L a cage with a hen Pekin Robin, for whom he 

 ^J~) showed great affection. Unfortunately for him 

 it was not returned, and all his attentions were 

 treated with the utmost indifference by the Pekin. 

 They used to be a most amusing couple to watch if you 

 were sitting quietly in the room ; the Bulbul would 

 try to sit close to the Pekin, who would edge away as 

 he sidled up to her, and at last fly away in disgust. 

 It was quite another matter, though, at night, when 

 she wanted to be warm ; then she would not only allow 

 him to come up close, but even to spread his wing 

 over her. I used to find them like this when I took a 

 lamp into the birdroom at night — which I always do 

 during the long nights — and very comic they looked. 

 It was one of the few occasions on which I could 

 agree with Dr. Watts, that " Birds in their little nests 

 agree." 



