214 BRITISH BIRDS. 



black. The female wants the black mark on each 

 side of the head; the crown of the head is rust 

 colour, spotted with black; the vent feathers not 

 black, but of the same colour as the belly. 



The Bearded Titmouse is found chiefly in the 

 southern parts of the kingdom ; it frequents marshy 

 places where reeds grow, on the seeds of which it 

 feeds; it breeds there, though its minute history 

 is imperfectly known. It is said that they were 

 first brought to this country from Denmark, by the 

 Countess of Albemarle, and that some of them, 

 having made their escape, founded a colony here ; 

 but Latham, with great probability, supposes that 

 they are ours ab ortginc, and that it is owing to 

 their frequenting the places where reeds grow, 

 and which are not easily accessible, that so little 

 is known of them. Edwards gives a figure of this 

 bird, and describes it under the name of the Least 

 Butcher Bird. 



