'HABITS OF THE BEARDED TIT. 



69 



the bird which I possess, that the different species of tits which are 

 confined with him have now become very shy of attempting to break 

 a seed when he happens to be near them. 



The shrikes, besides what small animals they can seize, devour a 

 considerable number of the larger beetles and bees ; and I am inclined 

 to think that the Bearded Tit principally subsists in its wild state on 

 the various small beetles so abundant in the reedy tracts in which it 

 is found ; it will also eat small snails, and it is fond of flies, but is by 

 no means expert in catching them. It will feed also on a variety of 

 small seeds ; but BufTon, and after him Goldsmith and others, were 

 most egregiously wrong in calling it a bird of prey,* the weakness 

 of its structure alone being sufficient to convince any person of the 

 contrary. 



1 would not, however, lay too much stress on the resemblance which 

 this bird bears to the shrikes, as it differs from them also in some 

 important particulars. The stomach of the Bearded Tit is extremely 

 strong and muscular, resembling that of a finch or bunting ; that of 

 the shrike is membranaceous, and formed like the stomach of a bird 

 of prey, to digest flesh. The stomach of the tits, also, might almost be 

 termed membranaceous, as they have comparatively but little muscular 

 power, their digestion being chiefly effected by the gastric juice. The 

 progressive motion of the shrikes, and of the tits also when on the 

 ground, is by successive hops ; that of the Bearded Tit is by a curious 

 and peculiar shuffling walk, somewhat like the strut of the chaffinch, 

 but with the head near the ground. The Bearded Tit is of a very 

 timorous nature, and it is generally a very long time before it becomes 

 sufficiently familiar to feed when a person is looking at it. Some 

 pains have been taken to tame the individual which I possess, and 

 he will now take bread and milk from the hand, but not without the 

 greatest circumspection, and the most extreme readiness to retreat at 

 the least move of the person who offers it. He is immoderately fond 

 of bread and milk, and will take no other food from the hand ; but I 

 have observed that it does not agree with him, as he is always ill after 

 having eaten it in any quantity. His extreme timidity is also shewn 

 when disturbed from his roost at night, being alarmed at the slightest 

 noise, and flying about with his long pheasant-like tairexpanded wide, 

 which gives it a very beautiful appearance. 



* Goldsmith, in describing the butcher-bird, says, that " a still smaller species is 

 found in the marshes near London : this also is a bird of prey, though no bigger than 

 a torn-tit." {Animated Nature, Vol. III.) 



