281 



THE CRESTED TIT. 



Parus cristatus, Linnjeos ; La Mesange hupp^e, BUFFON ; Die Haubenmeise, 

 Bechstein. 



This bird is four inches and a half in length, of which the 

 tail measures one and one third. The beak is four lines, and 

 black ; the shanks are seven lines high, and lead blue ; the head 

 is adorned with a crest, composed of feathers nearly an inch 

 long, black tipped with white, which the bird can erect at 

 pleasure in a conical form. 



Habitation. — When wild these birds frequent all the pine and fir woods 

 in Thuringia, but are not so numerous as the other species*. They fly- 

 about low bushes, and therefore delight in places where juniper bushes 

 abound. 



In the house they require the same treatment as the blue tit, and even 

 greater attention ; tliey can rarely be tamed when taken full grown f. 



Food. — In a wild state it feeds in the same manner as the cole tit. 



In the house it must be first fed on ants' eggs, flies, and meal-worms. 

 It will afterwards eat nuts and hemp-seed, like the other tits, but it seems 

 to require insects occasionally. 



Breeding. — The nest is formed like that of the cole tit, and placed in the 

 hole of a tree, amongst some stones, or in large forsaken nests. The brood 

 consists of from six to ten snow-white eggs, spotted with bright red. The 

 young must be reared on meal-worms cut small and ants' eggs. 



Mode of Taking. — This is the same which is adopted for catching the 

 cole tits. Its call is "^^errAry." 



Attractive Qualities. — Its song is not striking, but its form and habits 

 are very pleasing. 



* It is found, but rarely, in the fir woods in the north of Scotland.— Translatoh. 



t I have, however, seen one old crested tit that was tamed as easily as any other 

 bird. After passing the winter in a cage it refused its liberty in the spring. It was 

 then placed in the garden near the house, where it remained till evening, having 

 hopped about all day, uttering restless anxious cries. Its mistress, fearing some 

 accident befalling it during the night, held the cage towards it, into which it in- 

 stantly jumped with pleasure. Since then it has been allowed to range three adjoin- 

 ing rooms. It is always lively, coming when its mistress calls, and perching on her 

 finger, and seeking in her half-closed hand the flies she may have there. It made a 

 nest in a window-curtain, into which it would glide secretly in the evening, but would 

 never go whilst any eyes were turned on that side, and seized a favourable moment 

 80 quickly, that for some time no one knew where it retired ; when it was discovered, 

 the curtains were never touched.— Translator. 



