12 The Birds of Pembrokeshire. 
Indeed, we must say that it has been under such surroundings 
that we have most often heard this Mark Tapley of a bird 
indulging in song. We often had the pleasure of being visited 
by Water Ouzels at Stone Hall, a little brook running through 
our grounds to feed our various ponds being the attraction. 
BEARDED TITMOUSE, Panurus biarmicus.—A very rare occa- 
sional visitor. Although this very handsome species is more 
correctly a Reed Bunting than a Tit, we will not depart from the 
old custom of including it among the lively and beautiful Tits. 
We have authority for but one occurrence of it in the county. 
We are informed by Sir Hugh Owen that he saw some Bearded 
Tits “in reeds above Sealyham upper quarry bridge, about 
1860.” Since then we have had news ofa more recent visit of 
these rare little birds, if not actually to Pembrokeshire, yet to 
Carmarthenshire, and but a mile or so over the border. Col. 
Mathew tells us that when he was residing at Castellgorfod, a 
little to the north of St. Clear’s, he sawa pair of Bearded Tits 
there in November, 1891, among some alders that fringed a large 
wood. ‘There was high rough grass and trash growing among 
the alders, and a little stream close at hand. In the following 
spring he saw a pair close to the house. One of them came 
suddenly, it was a beautiful male, and settled on a tall rush at 
the edge of a pond in the grounds, remaining there for some 
minutes and permitting itself to be closely approached. This 
almost countenances the supposition that the birds may have 
nested, and may still nest in that locality. If they do we trust 
that they will owe their safety to no one in the neighbourhood 
being aware of their rarity. 
LONG-TAILED TIT, Acvedula rosea—A common resident. This 
minute species was very plentiful around Stone Hall, where the 
larch and spruce covers afforded the members of the Tit family 
both shelter and an abundance of the insect food they love. We 
frequently came across its beautiful nest in the woods, and 
noticed that the materials employed by the tiny architects varied 
