BEARDED TIT. 383 



by running, or rather by dropping. The movement is rapid 

 down the stem to the bottom, where they creep and flit, 

 perfectly concealed from view by the closeness of the covert, 

 and the resembling tints of their plumage." Mr. Hoy says, 

 " the borders of the large pieces of fresh water in Norfolk 

 called broads, particularly Hickling and Horsey Broads, 

 are the favourite places of resort of this bird ; indeed it is 

 to be met with in that neighbourhood wherever there are 

 reeds in any quantity, with fenny land adjoining. During 

 the autumn and winter they are found dispersed, generally in 

 small parties, throughout the whole length of the Suffolk 

 coast, wherever there are large tracts of reeds. I have found 

 them numerous in the breeding season on the skirts of 

 Whittlesea, near Huntingdonshire ; and they are not un- 

 common in the fenny district of Lincolnshire; whether 

 they are to be met with farther north I have had no means 

 of ascertaining ; but they do not appear to have been 

 noticed north of the Humber. It begins building towards 

 the end of April. The nest is composed on the outside 

 with the dead leaves of the reed and sedge, intermixed with 

 a few pieces of grass, and lined with the top of the reed. 

 It is generally placed in a tuft of coarse grass or rushes 



