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CHAPTER XXXVIII. 



TITMICE, WOODPECKERS, AND BUNTINGS. 



The Great Tit, the largest of its tribe, is a very striking bird, strongly marked, and of 

 great activity and vivacity ; when wild hopping from branch to branch and clinging to the 

 trees, which it examines most minutely in search of any insects or larvae that may be secreted 

 in the leaves or bark. It has, however, a reputation for being extremely dangerous if 

 placed in an aviary with other small birds, being credited with having killed its neighbours 

 by repeated blows of its hard beak on the head of the victim, whose brains are thereupon 

 picked out and eaten. If reared, as recommended for young Nightingales, from the nest by 

 hand, however, these birds may be turned into the aviary with comparative safety. An aviary 

 of Titmice is one of the most interesting of any, because of their beauty, diminutive size, and 

 unflagging vivacity ; and if given plenty of perches, or, better still, the branch of a tree with 

 many boughs and twigs, they will be continually flitting from perch to perch, uttering their 

 short note the while. All of the tribe are fond of water and bathing. 



The Great Tit should be fed upon scraped beef and egg, German paste, soaked bread and 

 hemp-seed, whole hemp-seed and oats, suet, and any insects that are procurable, such as meal- 

 worms, gentles, and flies ; a few shelled nuts of any description afford them especial pleasure, 

 as will also picking a meat bone. They are capable of being easily tamed, and will in time eat 

 out of the hand of their feeder. 



The Blue Tit is a very diminutive bird, being only four and a half inches in length, but 

 so common as to be little appreciated, or no doubt its beautifully marked blue head and back 

 combined with its grace and activity, would cause it to be much more often found in aviaries 

 than is now the case. When in search of food, which consists principally of insects, this bird is 

 most amusing in its actions, often assuming the most grotesque positions, hanging beneath the 

 branches and searching with most critical eye every possible hiding-place that could shelter 

 its prey. 



This bird is perfectly safe if placed in the aviary, as it is not dangerous to the other birds. 

 When first caught it should be placed in a cage for a few days, and fed upon any live insects 

 and mealworms and gentles, adding whole hemp-seed and some pieces of shelled nuts, walnuts 

 or Spanish nuts being preferable ; in other respects it should be fed and treated as recommended 

 for the Great Tit. 



The Cole Tit is another common bird about the size of the preceding, principally found 

 in woods and small plantations ; it is also particularly active and indefatigable in its search for 

 insects. The Cole Tit is a pretty little aviary pet, and may be made exceedingly tame. One 

 now in our aviary of Tits has been fed for the last five years upon the food recommended for 

 the Great Tit. It is very fond of bathing. 



