56 
Bitd Notes from Far and Near. 
BirJ) IRotes from Jfau an& IWear. 
About my Pkndut.ink Titmick. 
From an interesting acconiit by PVau Maiie Assaulenko, in Die 
Gefiedei te Welt tlie following notes have been compiled. Of the many species 
of Tits the Penduline is one of the finest and most attrncti ve in many features 
of the leading characteristics of these interesting birds; though so delicate 
and frail, that only a few very experienced bird-keepers succeed in keeping 
them for any length of lime. 1 had been specially desirous for a long time 
for a pair of such birds, and although the Titmouse is a very frequent 
visitor, I could not satisfy my longing till last summer The catching of 
these birds, especially in their nest, is very easy and simple : one remenibei's 
a not too high hanging nest and when it is growing dark in the evening, you 
creep gently near and close up the opening of the nest: so has one for 
certain at once caught a pair, for the Titmice always sleep in the nest, even 
when it is only in a partly finished condition and eggs are not yet deposited. 
Unfortunate!)', liowever, ']'itmice caught in this way have only a short life 
in captivity .... all food which I placed before them, fresh ants' cocoons, 
mealworms, all other kinds of insects, as well as kitchen scraps, were dis- 
dainfully refused. . . . and to save their lives I had to speedily restore them 
to liberty My failure in this respect I have always attributed to tlift 
fact that I did not get the birds at the right time It is generally 
known that late caught birds, and birds caught on the point of breeding are 
much more difScnlt to accustom to captivity than those caught wild in 
spring. I did everything possible to acquire for my Titmice suitable pro- 
vision according to their needs, but unfortunately I have never succeeded, 
even with one single pair, to procure them at the right time Tit- 
mouse net, bird lime, everything was in train, the longing for the birds, but 
tlie)' were and still remain unobtainable My patience was put to a 
severe test and my dream seemed likely a dream to remain, and yet, in spite 
of all this failure, I am at this moment the happy possessor of five Titmice, 
splendid and thoroughly good birds, which, in a large cage with Blue, 
Marsh and F"ir Titmice, bustle about merrily and consume their mixed food, 
very agreeably and with apparent pleasure. I am indebted to chance for 
my birds. . . . but before further description, I should like to say a few 
words about nests, especially the nest building of the Penduline Titmouse, 
because I have just made careful observation of this species. No bird has 
ever excited in so great a measure my astonishment and admiration as 
these pigmies of the bird world. It seems almost incredible that this tiny, 
weak little bird should produce alone, with the help of his beak and feet, 
so artistic and completely woven a uest. The building always begins from 
the top. . . . two thin willow (osier) or birch branches are wrapped round 
from the place, where the prong is formed, with long hemp and thread 
(fibre). ... in order to make this fast the bird flutters and crawls hither and 
