THE



23



Avicultural Magazine,



BEING THE JOURNAL OF THE


AVICULTURAL SOCIETY.



Third Series .— Vol. V.—No. 1. —All rights reserved. NOVEMBER, 1913.



THE RED-HEADED TITMOUSE.


CEgithalisus erythrocephalus.


By Hubert D. Astley.


Nothing more dainty and more fascinating can be found

amongst birds than this tiny Titmouse. Inhabiting the forests of

some parts of the Himalayas, it probably there bears in its habits a

cousinly resemblance to the European Long-tailed Tit, but the Bed¬

headed has more of a curve in the minute bill, and less length to the

tail. Major Perreau brought some to England in March 1913, but

owing to their cage being violently upset on board the channel

steamer, they did not long survive.


Two w 7 ere landed at Genoa last spring in Major Horsbrugh’s

collection, which I took with me to Lake Como, but they succumbed

in two days, after having lived long enough for me to be all but

moved to tears at their departure ! It was a chilly rainy evening

when the ship was towed in to the dock at Genoa, looking as if she

was tired-out after her voyage from India. Perhaps the little Tit¬

mice contracted a chill, anyhow they succumbed within a few hours

of each other. I did all I could. I collected sprays of rose branches

rich in green “ fly,” and those small birds eagerly and without the

slightest fear clung to the stems as I held them in my fingers, pick¬

ing off the “ fly.”


The grace and confidence which they showed would have

impressed even a hippopotamus ! which always strikes me as the

most hideously uncouth and self-centred creature on the face of the



