AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 149 



then in East Norfolk when we were in pursuit of 

 wild fowl during the winter months. They appeared 

 to keep in small parties, and gave forth a constant 

 ringing bell-like call, very peculiar and very musical : 

 they were not very shy, and on one occasion, whilst 

 lying hidden in a reed-bed for a shot at some wild 

 fowl, I had eight or nine of these graceful little birds 

 close around me for several minutes ; they climbed 

 rapidly up the reeds, examined the heads of the 

 plants, and constantly darted down to the ground, 

 or rather crust, from which the said reeds were 

 growing, to recommence operations on other stems. 

 Their actions much resemble those of the true Tit- 

 mice, from which in many other respects, such as 

 internal structure, nesting-habits, coloration of eggs, 

 and voice, they differ very widely. I have never seen 

 a nest of this species in situ, but received a beautiful 

 specimen thereof some years ago from Holland : this 

 nest is built almost entirely of the leaves of the 

 common reed, with a few blades of fine sedge, and 

 lined with the soft tops of the former plant ; the 

 eggs in this instance were six, of a pure white, 

 speckled and irregularly streaked with dark brown. 



The Bearded Titmouse is still to be found in some 

 numbers in certain spots in East Anglia, though 

 many of its former haunts are no longer suitable to 

 its habits, from the effects of draining and cultivation. 

 The chief food of this species appears to be the seed 

 of the reed, but in captivity I have found them most 

 omnivorous, and ants' eggs were very favourite morsels 

 with them, as they are with almost every cage-bird 

 with which I have any acquaintance. My living 

 specimens of this species were purchased in London, 

 and Avere said to have been sent thither from the 



