Family PANURID^. 



THE BEARDED TITMOUSE 

 Panurus biarmicus (Linnaeus). 

 Plate io. 



The Bearded Titmouse or Bearded Reedling, though apparently much like 

 the Titmice in many of its habits and actions, has no real relationship to that 

 family, and according to Professor Newton (Yarrell's British Birds, 4th ed., vol. i. 

 p. 512) "must be regarded as the representative of a separate family to which he 

 would apply the name PanuridcBr 



Before the drainage of the fens, this bird was common in many of the reed- 

 beds and marshes of England, but it is now confined as a resident almost, if not 

 entirely, to Norfolk, where it is called by the fen-men the " Reed Pheasant." 



It is also found in parts of Central and Southern Europe, where the surroundings 

 suit its habits, and was at one time very plentiful in the reedy marshes of 

 Holland. Eastwards it ranges through southern Russia and Asia Minor to 

 Mongolia. 



The nest, begun about the end of March or beginning of April, is built low 

 down among sedge and herbage near the water, and is made of the blades of 

 the sedge and reed plants, with a lining of the feathery reed tops. The eggs, 

 varying in number from five to seven, are white, with broken streaks or speckles 

 of reddish-brown. 



The Bearded Titmouse breeds twice in the year, and when the nesting time 

 is over the birds collect and rove about the reed-beds in parties ; flitting from 

 one feeding ground to another, uttering the while their musical, ringing notes. 

 As soon as the food in one clump of reeds is exhausted, they move on to a fresh 

 cluster, climbing up and down the stems with great agility and searching them 

 closely for insects. They also eat small molluscs, whilst in winter the seeds of 

 the reed are sought for. 



These birds show great affection, a pair often sitting close together while 

 preening each other's feathers. 



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