CHAPTEE LXII. 



THE Bearded Titmouse. 



Parus hiarmicus, Lin. ; Le Me'sange harhue ou moustache, Buf. 



Desceiption and Chaeactee. — The Bearded Tit is a very 

 attractive bird in appearance, not only on account of its delicate 

 and variously-coloured plumage, but also because of its peculiar 

 facial markings, which are very striking. Unfortunately, it is a 

 very timid bird, and difficult to approach, being apparently much 

 averse to the society of human beings. It is most difficult to 

 capture, and when caught terribly wild and intractable. Unless 

 reared by hand from the nest, these birds are not easily recon- 

 ciled to domestic life. They never become properly tame when 

 taken later on, in this respect differing greatly from most 

 of the varieties of this somewhat numerous and widespread 

 family. 



The length of the Bearded Titmouse is 6^in., of which the 

 tail exceeds Sin. The bill is rather long, thin, curved slightly 

 at the point, and of an orange colour, with small dark bristles 

 surrounding the base. The irides are deep yellow (known as 

 " gravel-eyed "). The forehead is palish yellow ; the head and 

 upper part of the hind neck are a beautiful, delicate, pale or 

 ashen grey. The nape of the neck, back, rump, and tail, are 

 chestnut orange, or faint, soft, russet colour, the three outer 

 feathers of the tail being tipped with white. The throat and 

 fore part of the neck are silvery white. Over and beneath each 

 eye, and running to a point at the sides of the neck, is a black 

 marking, almost in the form of an acute triangle, from which 

 the bird derives the name of " Bearded " Tit. The breast is 



