BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 303 



Family, PANURID^E (Reedlings), 



THE BEARDED-TIT, OR REEDLINQ 



(Panurus biarmicus). 



Plate 110. 



There is a certain superficial resemblance in form 

 between the species just described and this bird ; but 

 the rich colouring of the latter makes it unmistakable. 

 Nor is there evidence of very close relationship, and the 

 title ' Bearded-Tit ' is certainly a misnomer. ' Bearded- 

 Reedling' is much to be preferred, but general custom 

 in such matters is stronger than right and wrong. 



* Reed - Pheasant ' is a Norfolk name. The epithet 



* bearded' refers to a very conspicuous feature of the 

 adult male's plumage. Immature and female birds lack 

 the 'beard,' and are duller in plumage generally, with 

 a few other small differences in pattern. The shape of 

 the longish tail is a characteristic of the species. 



The Bearded-Reedling was formerly found in many of 

 the marshy districts of the south, east, and Midlands 

 of England. Drainage and persecution have altered that, 

 and the species is now an uncommon resident in the 

 Norfolk Broads, and is otherwise unknown in our area, 

 except as a very unusual wanderer to other districts 

 in the south of England. The total number of nests 

 on the Broads was estimated at two hundred in 1838 

 and at thirty -three in 1898, showing a reduction of 

 about 83 per cent, in sixty yeai-s. During the last 

 decade, however, the numbers have again increased under 

 the vigilant protection now afforded in most parts of that 

 magnificent East Anglian bird-haunt. 



