Titmice and Woodpeckers. 331 



The Marsh Tit, though not so generally distributed as the preceding species, is still 

 to be found plentifully in some localities, the preference, as its name implies, being given to 

 lowlands, where are moist meadows, with brushwood and old willow trees ; it is a livelyj 

 active little bird, and is continually chirping its one solitary note. Though from the amount 

 of dusky brown in its plumage it is not so striking as the foregoing Tits, yet it is a pretty 

 little bird, and enlivens the aviary with its continuous twittering and restless activity. The 

 Marsh Tits at present in our aviary have been fed for the last five years in the same way as 

 recommended for the Great Tit. 



The Bearded Tit, unlike the rest of this tribe, generally frequents reeds and sedges, 

 climbing up them in search of insects or the seeds. They are very handsome birds, having the 

 whole of the upper part fawn-colour, the face and ear-coverts grey, and from the beak across 

 the eye, down each side of the throat of the male bird runs a jet-black band, which the bird 

 has the power of puffing out at pleasure, and from this feature its name is derived ; the chin, 

 throat, and breast are white, the tail is long and wedge-shaped, the wings dark brown, the 

 feathers edged with fawn-colour, the primaries edged with light grey. 



The Bearded Tit should be fed as the Great Tit. These birds have been known to 

 breed in confinement. One cock and a pair of hens having been provided with some coarse 

 rank grass, placed in a pot, built their nests, and in one season laid as many .as forty-nine 

 eggs. 



The Longtailed Tit has occasioned much controversy as to its proper classification. It 

 is much more difficult to keep than any of the tribe, being somewhat similar to the Golden- 

 crested Wren, and should be fed and treated as that bird. 



The Crested Tit is a very scarce bird in England, though often found in Scotland. 

 Being a pretty bird, it is a very desirable addition to an aviary of Tits, and it will feed upon 

 the general food recommended. 



the woodpecker tribe. 



The Green Woodpecker is one of the very handsomest of British birds, as may be 

 seen from the Plate ; it is also a fine bird, and is especially conspicuous in consequence of 

 the brightness of its plumage and peculiar habits, it being very interesting to watch clinging 

 to a tree in search of insects, which its long beak and peculiar tongue are particularly adapted 

 to extract from the crevices of the bark. The tail is short, strong, and pointed, being used 

 as a support in climbing. As this bird, in common with the whole of its tribe, is not a 

 perching bird, the bark of a tree or some virgin cork should be placed against the sides of 

 the cage or aviary. 



The Green Woodpecker will eat most insects, principally depending upon spiders and 

 caterpillars, or ants and their eggs, which latter it digs out of the ant-hills ; failing these or 

 other insects, it will feed upon soft-skinned fruits, and sometimes nuts. In confinement the 

 bird should be fed upon scraped beef and &g%, and soaked bread and hemp-seed ; it should 

 also be given ants' eggs, mealworms, gentles, beetles, or other insects, either separately or 

 mixed with its food. If reared from the nest it will become quite tame ; at this time the males 

 may be distinguished from the females by their crimson cheeks, which the latter do not possess. 



