CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 2. PASSERES. 



139 



THE CRESTED TIT. 



TUE BEARDED TIT. 



Ptiddinfj, Huchnuck, and Mum-Rnffin^ of the English, are among its popular designations there. 

 The Italians call it Pendolino ; the French Mesange a la Longue Queue and Pcrd sn Queue; 

 the Germans Lanc/sclnodnzige Mcise ; and the Welsh Y Benloyn GnyffonMr, This species 

 is found throughout Europe and Northern Asia, and remains through the winter in England. 

 Pennant, speaking of their flight, says that from the slimness of their bodies and great length of 

 tail, they appear like so many darts cutting the air. Yarrell describes the habits of this interest- 

 ing little bird as follows: "The nest of this species is another example of ingenious construction, 

 combining beauty of appearance with security and warmth. In shape it is nearly oval, with one 

 small hole in the upper part of the side by which the bird enters. I have never seen more than 

 one hole. The outside of this nest sparkles with silver-colored lichens, adhering to a firm texture 

 of moss and wool, the inside profusely lined with soft feathers. The nest is generally placed in 

 the middle of a thick bush, and so firmly fixed that it is mostly found necessary to cut out the 

 portion of the bush containing it, if desirous of preserving the natural appearance and form of the 

 nest. In this species the female is known to be the nest-maker, and to have been occupied for a 

 fortnight to three weeks in completing her habitation. In this she deposits from ten to twelve 

 eggs, but a larger number are occasionally found ; they are small and white, with a few pale red 

 specks, frequently quite plain, measuring seven lines in length and five lines in breadth. The 

 young family of the year keep company with the parent birds during their first autumn and win- 

 ter, and generally crowd close together on the same branch at roosting-time, looking, when thus 

 huddled up, like a shapeless lump of feathers only. These birds have several notes, on the sound 

 of which they assemble and keep together : one of these call-notes is soft and scarcely audible; a 

 second is a louder chirp or twitter; and a third is of a hoarser kind." 



The Penduline Titmouse, P. pendtilmus, is four and a half inches long; reddish-gray above; 

 lower parts whitish, with rosy tints; lives along the sandy borders of rivers, and builds a flask- 

 shaped nest at the extremity of some willow twig or other flexible branch of a tree ; found in 

 Southeastern Europe. 



The Cape Titmouse, P. Capensis, found at the Cape of Good Hope, has the head, throat and 

 belly black ; the rest of the body cinereous : it is noted, like the preceding, for its elaborate nest. 



