TlIK HI-AHDKD-TIT 



food at the base of the stems, and this may he the reason why 

 eap-d hirds scratch in sand and mini on the a\ iary floor. I could 

 not induce my tits to . -at am kind of seed, hut during the time I 

 kept them caged 1 used to supply them with loose tufta of matted 

 vegetation, consisting mostly of canary seed, \\hirh sprouts rapidly. 

 hut has no depth of root. When thi^ \\;iv ^iven to the hearded-titH 

 they instantly set to work tearing the loose mould away, and picking 

 out minute white larvae, so that very soon a fair-sized lump of this 

 friable earth was evenly spread over the floor of the cage. So fond 

 were the birds of this material, that after a few days they would fly 

 down on to my hands and attack the mass as I placed it in the 

 cage. 



If so much food could be found in a few square inches of matted 

 vegetation in January and February, surely there must be a plentiful 

 supply of lame in those swamps which later on teem with millions of 

 insects. When, however, the marshes are frost-bound, bearded-tits 

 may possibly be able to subsist on the seeds of the reed-mace, much 

 in the same way as coal and marsh-tits will thrive on the seeds of 

 conifers. 



The fact that these frail-looking birds can endure the rigours of 

 a Broadland winter tends to prove that their diet must be a catholic 

 one. In hard weather they may often be seen clinging to the reed- 

 mace pulling the " pokers " to pieces, but whether for the sake of the 

 seeds, or for minute larva? which may be concealed therein, I cannot 

 say perhaps both. As the larva? of Larerna phrag-initetta commence 

 to burrow into the reed-mace during August and remain there all the 

 winter, causing the " pokers " to burst out and become fluffy, it is more 

 than probable that the bearded-tits are searching after the larva? rather 

 than feeding on the seeds of the plant ; just as the longtailed-tit will 

 pull to pieces moss and lichen in its search after the insect-life con- 

 cealed therein. 



The winter flocks live amicably until pairing-time. Lubbock says 

 that at night they nestle in a cluster on the same reed, males and 



VOL. II. 2H 



