356 



British Cage Birds. 



Occasionally it visits orcliards and gardens, in searcb. of insects, 

 and the seeds of the sunflower, of which latter it appears 

 passionately fond. 



Like all the members of the Titmouse family, it is uncommonly 

 vivacious and active, and flits about from place to place with 

 great rapidity. It is very interesting to watch these birds 

 chase bees in the summer time, and to observe the ingenuity, 

 dexterity, and determination with which they pursue and 

 capture them. 



The Marsh Tit builds its nest in hollow trees, mostly prefer- 

 ring the decayed stump of an old willow, which it excavates 

 readily. The nest is composed of moss and dried grass, and is 

 lined with hair, wool, fur, feather, or thistledown. The hen 

 lays from eight to twelve eggs (generally eight or ten), of a 

 brownish white colour, spotted with reddish orange, and incu- 

 bates from thirteen to fifteen days. The parents are very atten- 

 tive to their young, and look after their welfare long after they 

 have quitted the parental roof. 



Methods of Capture. — The Marsh Titmouse may be taken 

 in the ordinary Tit trap, or by the use of a decoy and limed 

 twigs ; bait with nut kernels or oats. Some birdcatchers 

 fasten a few sunflowers to two or three sticks, about 4ft. long, 

 sharpened at one end, and driven into the ground ; these sticks 

 are erected at the side of a pool which the birds are known 

 to frequent. The sticks have holes bored in them in several 

 places with a gimlet, and in these round pieces of wood, 

 resembling the perches in a bird cage, are firmly secured, and 

 coated with birdlime. This device is usually successful. 



Food and Treatment.— In their natural, or wild state. Marsh 

 Tits feed extensively on aquatic and other insects, and grubs 

 and larvae of any sort. In the autumn and winter, when 

 insect food is diflScult to obtain, they eat various kinds of wild 

 seeds, and elder, ivy, and mountain ash berries. 



In confinement, they may be fed on mealworms, ants' eggs, 

 raw or cooked meat, chopped fine, mixed with breadcrumbs, 

 and moistened with water ; or on Compounds No. 1, No. 2, and 

 No. 3 {vide pages 189, 190). They are fond of peameal, 

 mixed with a little oatmeal and bruised hemp seed, or the seeds 

 of the sunflower, and made with water into a moderately soft 

 paste. 



Eearinq the Young. — The young ought to be taken when 



