2& /A 7 BIRD-LAND 



actually occupied in the act of so cleaning out 

 her nest. 



It was quite an entertainment for a naturalist to 

 see all this, to watch one of the most beautiful of 

 British birds so attending and caring for her 

 young ; but I was sorry that her mate did not 

 also feed them, as he is even more handsome, and 

 I very much wanted a good photograph of him. 



Several other pairs were also to be seen about, 

 with their young following in single file, and all 

 giving forth their musical call-note while in flight. 



I could not help noticing how like the Long- 

 tailed Titmouse they seemed in their manners and 

 flight. Although known as the Bearded Tit, they 

 have really no relation to the family of Titmice, 

 and are the representatives of what is quite a 

 distinct species. 



Their curious dropping flight when proceeding 

 from one reed-bed to another, reminded one 

 forcibly of the Long-tailed Titmouse when flying 

 from tree to tree with their young following ; any- 

 body only taking into consideration the habits ot 

 these two species, might think that they were 

 closely related. To watch their climbing the 

 reeds, hanging in all sorts of queer positions, and 

 twisting about as they swayed in the wind, 

 reminded one again of the Long-tailed Titmouse 



