124 



BIRD GALLERY. 



Family XIX. PANURiDiE. Bearded Tits. 



[Case 77.] ' The sole representative of this family is the Bearded Tit or Bearded 

 Reedling {Panurus biarmicus) (2249), which is still found as a resident 

 in the Norfolk Broads and ranges across Europe to Central Asia. It 

 was formerly more widely distributed over the southern counties of 

 England, but the draining of the reedy fens destroyed its bi'eeding- 

 grounds. Its affinities are somewhat doubtful, but its natural position 

 appears to be near the Tits. The male is more handsomely marked 

 than the female, which lacks the grey head and black moustache. The 

 food consists of insects and moUusca, for which it searches among the 

 reed-beds. The nest, made of dead flags, grass, &c. and lined with reed- 

 flowers, is built among aquatic plants near the water. The eggs are 

 white, streaked with wavy lines of brownish- black. 



Family XX. Cham.s;iDjE. Wren-Tits. 



[Case 77.] Three American species of Chamma (2268), peculiar to the dried 

 plains and bushy hill-sides of Oregon and California, are the repre- 

 sentatives of this family. In their habits and general appearance they 

 resemble the Wrens. 



Family XXI. Regulid^k. Golden-Crested Wrens. 



[Case 77.] About a dozen species of tiny birds inhabiting the northern parts of 

 the Old and New Worlds comprise this family, which is intermediate 

 between the Titmice and Warblers. The Common Gold-crest {Regulus 

 cristatus) (2269) ^ a resident British species and the smallest of our native 

 birds, ranges across Europe and Northern Asia. Its cup-shaped nest of 

 moss and feathers is suspended below the end of a branch and may contain 

 as many as twelve tiny white eggs suffused with yellowish-brown. The 

 Fire-crest {R. ignicapiUus) (2270) is an irregular visitor to our shores. 

 A very handsome species is the North American Ruby-crest {R. calen- 

 dula) (2272), which differs from the other species in having a red 

 crest. 



Family XXII. Sittid^. Nuthatches. 



[Case 77.] The Nuthatches, of which our common species Sitta c<ssia (2274) is 

 typical, are closely allied to the Titmice, but may be distinguished by 

 their strong, elongate, wedge-shaped bill. They have the general 

 appearance of small Woodpeckers and climb trees with almost the same 

 facility, but unlike these birds they have a short, square tail composed 

 of soft-plumaged feathers. The well-timbered districts and forests of 



