VII PANURIDAE 541 
ings. Acredula apparently incubates with its tail over its back. 
The hen’s bravery when sitting, her hissing challenge, and her 
speedy return when driven off, are characteristic of Tits. 
Fam. XX. Panuridae.—Family rank is now pretty generally 
accorded to Panurus biarmicus, the “ Bearded Tit” or “ Reed- 
Pheasant,” though its 
affinities are still doubtful. 
Dr. Gadow,' judging from 
the internal structure, in- 
chnes to the view that it 
is akin to the Finches, 
but others place it next 
to the Tits. The bill is 
short, curved, rather con1- 
eal, and without a notch; 
the metatarsus is long and 
scutellated anteriorly ; the 
wings are short and 
rounded, the tail is ex- 
tremely long and gradu- 
ated. The plumage is 
orange-brown above, with 
a grey crown and a_ black 
streak from the lores down 
Fic. 122.—Reed Pheasant. Panwrus biarmicus. 
al 
AD. 
the cheeks, where the feathers are elongated and point backwards ; 
the wings are varied with black and white; the throat is greyish, 
the breast pinkish; the abdomen coloured lke the back; the under 
tail-coverts are black, the bill is yellow. The hen has a buff head, 
while she lacks the black “ moustache” and under tail-coverts. 
This pretty species, which ranges through most of Europe, 
except Scandinavia and Northern Russia, and reaches Central 
Asia, may be seen to advantage on the Norfolk Broads, where it 
is resident, and still breeds in diminished numbers. In windy 
weather the separate pairs keep hidden, but at other times, 
though shy, a quiet observer may see them flitting above the 
reeds, uttering their clear “ ping-ping,” or clinging to the flowering 
tops. Insects and small molluscs, with seeds in winter, constitute 
the food. From April to August a nest of broad grasses, sedges, and 
the like, lined with reed-flowers, or exceptionally with vegetable- 
1 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. viii. 1883, p. 3. 
