FOR CAGES AND AVIARIES. 



213 



said by some too indulgent friends of these birds, that 

 they only pick off diseased buds, such as have insects in 

 them, but that is scarcely so; however, notwithstanding 

 the damage they do, it is certain that they accomplish a 

 vast deal more good by killing myriads of destructive 

 insects, whose eggs and pupae they are also largely 

 instrumental in destroying. It is asserted that trees which 

 have been, apparently, deprived practically of all their 

 buds by Tits, yet 

 bear good crops of 

 fruit in due season, 

 often the very best 

 in the orchard. 



Tits are not suit- 

 able birds for cage 

 or aviary; in the 

 former they soon 

 pine and fret them- 

 selves to death, for 

 they have no scope 

 there for their cease- 

 less activity ; and 

 in the latter, they 

 are dangerous to 

 their companions, 

 even to such as are 

 considerably larger 

 than themselves. 



However, if they 

 must be kept, let 

 them be fed on 

 hemp and sunflower 

 seeds, ants' eggs, as 

 many mealworms 



and other insects as possible, and let them have a pieca 

 of suet and a bone with a little meat on it to peck at. 

 As these birds never roost in the open, but always in 

 a hole or crevice of some kind, they should have a snug 

 retreat provided for them, into which they may creep 

 at night. 



THE GREAT TIT. 



