THE



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BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



VOL. VI. — NO. 70. All rights reserved. AUGUST, 1900.



THE BEARDED REEDLING.


By J. E. Bonhote.


The Bearded Reedling, or Titmouse as it is sometimes

called, has always been a great favourite of mine, chiefly, perhaps,

because it is so entirely different in its habits and plumage from

any other bird ; it has a charm of manner, entirely its own, and

is the only existing form of a race which belonged possibly to

the avifauna of a former age, but still holding its own, even in

this country where a gun is never lacking should an uncommon

or curious bird show itself. The plumage is too well known to

require a detailed description, and to any who may not know it,

the accompanying plate will give at a glance, better than any

words, a general idea of the bird’s appearance.


There has been much doubt, and many controversies as to

the exact systematic position of the genus Panurus, which seems

to have left the question much where it was. Although rather

beyond the scope of this Magazine, it can do no harm to point

out in as few words as possible, the various ideas on its systematic

position. It was first placed among the Tits by Linnaeus in

about 1765, in which position it was allowed to remain un¬

challenged till 1833, when Mr. Blytli, from a careful examination

of its habits in captivity, and from its internal structure, ex¬

pressed the opinion that it was nearly related to the Shrikes

(Laniidce). This opinion he subsequently altered, and placed it

near the Waxbills ( Estreldae ). Macgillivray in 1840, from a study

of the soft parts, placed it near the Buntings, while Messrs.

Sharpe and Dresser in their “Birds of Europe” believe it to be

allied to the genus Sphenceacus. Prof. Sundevall places it among

the Viduinae or Whydah birds ; the late Mr. Bartlett considered

it allied to Eiothrix. Mr. Parker maintains that near the Paridae

is its proper place, and Dr. Butler states that in his opinion it

forms a link between the Ploceidae and Buntings. Among such

a mass of conflicting statements, it has been left at the head of

the Paridae , although it is tacitly acknowledged to be in its



