PARUS BIARMICUS. 339 



Tife, for many rare birds may be flitting about the recesses of 

 woods and wastes we do not see ; so I advise my readers to go 

 into the woods and byeways — those wide open books of Nature 

 — and read for themselves. It is very retired — preferring the 

 gloomy forests of the north of Scotland. It also breeds in the 

 holes of trees and rocks, and feeds on insects and larvae, lays 

 from 5 to 10 red-spotted eggs, like the rest. Mr Hancock got 

 several of their nests in the woods of Morayshire on May 6th 

 — mostly with 5 eggs ; they were in holes in old stumps of 

 trees from three to six feet above ground— composed of moss, 

 rabbits' fur, and some feathers, like the cole-tit's. It is about 

 the size of the blue-tit, but, except its black conical crest, it is 

 plainer dressed, and resembles the cole-tit, but larger. It has a 

 black head and white cheeks ; back, greyish-brown ; breast, 

 greyish-white ; lower tail coverts, pale yellow-brown. Size, 4f 

 inches long by 8 inches in extent of wings. 



The Beakded Tit or Bearded Pinnock. 



(Parus Biarmicus.) Linn. 



" There to the brooding bird her mate 

 Warbles by fits his low clear song ; 

 And by the busy streamlet both 



Are sung to all day long." — Wordsicorth. 



As the crested-tit is chiefly found in the dense woods of 

 North Britain, this species is chiefly found amongst the marshes 

 and reeds of the south — between Erith and London — near the 

 sea. Unlike the rest of the tits, it has its nest amongst rank 

 grass and reeds r like the reed- wren, instead of holes in trees or 

 dykes. It is never suspended between the reeds, but amongst 

 tufts of grass, sedges, or broken reeds. It begins to build in 

 April. It is composed of the dead leaves of reeds and sedge, 

 mixed with grass outside and lined with the tops of reeds and fine 

 grass, like the reed-wren's : eggs, five to seven, pale cream colour, 

 with small lines and dots, as unlike those of the tits as its nest 

 is different. The borders of the stretches of fresh water, called 

 Broads, are favourite resorts. I am not aware of having seen it 

 here, but that is no reason why it may not be found in suitable 



