204 THE BEARDED TITMOUSE 



found that this species differs in its digestive organs and 

 other points from the Titmouse family, and that it is, 

 as the late Professor Newton remarks, a perfectly 

 distinct form, representing the family Panuridae, instead 

 of forming one species of the Paridae. 



It feeds on the seeds of the reeds in winter and in 

 summer on small molluscs. 



This bird, which is a beautiful and delightful bird in 

 every respect, is the size of a Yellow-Hammer. Its 

 feathers are of a silky fineness. The head is bluish- 

 grey ; from the corner of the mouth on each side, hangs 

 a pointed, silky black moustache, which can be raised 

 erect on occasion. The nape and back are cinnamon 

 brown, which is lighter over the root of the tail ; the 

 tail is deep black underneath, and is wedge-shaped with 

 feathers of graduated length. The wings are striped 

 with huffish-white, black and rufous ; the quills are 

 brown with white outer borders. The throat and chest 

 are snow white, the under parts white with a flush 

 of rose colour at the sides. The pupil of the eye is 

 golden yellow.* 



* In " Home-Life of Marsh Birds," Miss Emma Turner gives a most 

 interesting account of these lovely little birds, illustrated from her own 

 photographs. 



