THE BEARDED TIT, OR REED BIRD. 283 



imitation of a moustache. The tail is wedge-shaped, inclining 

 to orange ; the outer feathers are dark at the base and whitish 

 at the tip ; the third is tipped with white. 



The female is without the beard, or moustache * ; the top 

 of the head is rust red, spotted with black ; the vent is of the 

 same colour as the belly. 



Habitation. — In a wild state these birds are found where there are 

 lakes, large ponds, and extensive marshes full of reeds and aquatic plants; 

 they rarely show themselves in summer, keeping in pairs amongst the 

 tufted reeds ; but they are seen in winter, when food failing them in these 

 retreats, they fly about in families, perching on the trees and bushes f. 



In the house they must be kept in a large cage to allow them plenty of 

 exercise, unless permitted to range the room, which is still better. 



Food. — When wild this bird feeds principally on aquatic insects and the 

 seeds of the common reed (Arundo phragmitis). 



In the house they are generally first fed on poppy-seed, ants' eggs, and 

 meal-worms, and afterwards on bruised hemp-seed and the food common 

 for the other tits. It is best to rear them from the nest, as it is very diffi- 

 cult to preserve those taken when full grown. 



Breeding. — The knowledge on this head is very limited : the nest, placed 

 in the interwoven stems of the reeds, is in the shape of a purse, and com- 

 posed of dried grass and the down of several plants. In this the female 

 lays four or five speckled eggs, with a pale red ground. The young birds 

 should be taken from the nest when they are ready to fly, and fed on ants' 

 eggs and meal-worms cut small. 



Mode of Taking. — There is much difficulty in this. Fishermen who 

 know the places frequented by this species place limed twigs on the reeds, 

 and try gently to drive them towards one side, and sometimes catch a few X' 



Attractive Qualities. — In this bird are united beautiful plumage, a 

 graceful shape, and sprightliness. Its song resembles that of the blue tit, 

 but its call is very different. It is a pity it is so difficult to obtain. Buffon 

 says that all of this species that are found in England sprang from a pair 

 the Countess of Albemarle suffered to escape ; but most likely they had not 

 been seen before from want of attention. 



* This is not quite correct, the female having small moustaches of a light colour. 

 —Translator. 



t They abound in the fens of Lincolnshire, on the Thames below Greenwich, 3cc, 

 — Translator. 



X Great numbers are brought from Holland to London, and sell for aboitt fi\e 

 s^iillings a pair. — Translator. 



