OS THE OENITHOLOGICAL GUIDE. 



are read ; and a single glance at a good plate or a 

 picture imprints a juster idea than a volume would 

 convey." — vol. IV, p. 105. What will the Omitholo-. 

 gist think of the following passage — "There is 

 still another species of Butcher-bird or Shrike less 

 than either of the former [the Gray Shrike and the 

 Redbacked Shrike] found in the marshes near 

 London. This too is a bird of prey, although not 

 much bigger than a Tit, an evident proof that an 

 animal's courage does not depend upon its size." 

 The bird here alluded to is evidently the Bearded 

 Tit (Pants biarmicus, Lin.) — the Bearded Pinnoc 

 ( Calamophilus biarmicus, Leach) of modern Orni- 

 thologists. This is one of the most elegant and 

 most harmless of our native birds, and so far from 

 feeding on other birds is remarkably affectionate 

 and gentle towards them. To illustrate this we 

 shall make a short quotation from an account writ- 

 ten by one well acquainted with them : — " Bearded 

 Pinnocs have a remarkable habit of scratching each' 

 other's polls in the manner of Parrots ; and when 

 in an aviary, without a companion of their own 

 species, will frequently go up to other birds, and 

 presenting the poll to them, seem to implore them 

 to perform the kind office. I have witnessed this 

 repeatedly, and have even seen its desire gratified 

 by birds of very different natures ; as the Alder 

 Goldwing CCarduelis spinus, Cuv.) and the Moun- 

 tain Linnet (Linaria montana, Will.) Among 

 themselves they are doing this continually. I hardly 



