8 
and remains there throughout the year.’ The provincial name of ‘ Reed-Pheasant’ is here applied 
to this species, from its miniature resemblance to the nobler ‘longtails.’” 
Mr. Stevenson has likewise sent us a MS. communication mentioning the earlier notice of 
the bird in Norfolk, as recorded below, by Mr. J. H. Gumey, jun. As the latter gentleman had 
already sent us his notes before Mr. Stevenson, we have printed them entire, though we desire to 
thank our kind friend for the additional information he has been so good as to write for the 
benefit of the present work. 
Bailly has given the following account of the Bearded Reedling as observed by him in 
Savoy :— 
“The habits of this bird are quiet and sociable: after the breeding-season they unite in 
flocks, which are sometimes large, and frequent the reeds or the bushes in their vicinity, climbing 
with grace and agility amongst the stems or branches, descending to the water’s edge, and 
running about, like Wagtails, on the leaves of the aquatic plants, or on the ice, in search of food. 
They do not fear man much when he approaches; and only when disturbed or menaced do they 
fly off to some distance, or plunge into the reeds or plants; and they then express their discontent 
by uttering their ordinary note, which they repeat twice in succession, thein, thein. This cry 
somewhat resembles the silvery sound produced by twitching the strings of a mandoline. 
“The Bearded Reedling feeds on winged insects, small coleoptera, and seeds of rushes and 
reeds. It nests in the rushes, in the dense herbage of the eyots, or on the edge of some mass of 
water-plants, more generally above the water than on the ground. It attaches its nest to some 
stems with filaments of hemp or nettle plant, and constructs it solidly of mosses outside, on the 
inside of dried grasses, then down of plants, particularly thistle-down, and the cotton off poplars 
and willows, mixed sometimes with small leaves. It is ball-shaped, with thick sides; and the 
opening, which is wide, is on the upper part of one side. ‘The eggs are from five to seven in 
number.” 
Mr. J. G. Keulemans, who has had every opportunity of studying this bird in Holland, has 
given us the result of his experience as follows :— 
‘‘T believe this bird is found nowhere so abundantly as in Holland, especially in the 
provinces of Friesland and South Holland, where they occur regularly during the months of 
August, September, and October, in flocks of from five to twelve individuals. I have never 
seen them in winter, although it is said that some were observed in February, 1869, near the 
town of Middelburg, in the province of Zeeland. About twenty years ago they were rather 
plentiful in Friesland; and at that time few were observed in other parts of Holland; but 
gradually they returned, and are now again seen in flocks or pairs amongst the reeds in the 
marshy districts near Rotterdam. These charming little birds have always possessed great 
attractions for me, and were the constant companions of my youth. Being myself a native 
of Rotterdam, and acquainted with all the bird-sellers of the vicinity, I therefore had great 
opportunities of observing them in their natural state. Some years ago I was so lucky as to 
find a nest of this species containing four eggs; it was, as far as I can remember, about the 
beginning of June; and the locality where the nest was situated was at a place about two hours 
journey from Rotterdam, near the so-called ‘Cormoran Island.’ It was freely suspended on a 
branch of a dead tree lying in the water so that only some of the twigs were seen above the 
