B E A U I) F.I) TIT.
PARVS BIARMICUS.
Tun drainage of marshes and reclaiming of waste lands all uver the country are banishing number! of OUT
native birds fiuni the strongholds they have held for ages. This handsome little bird, unlike some of the
larger species, is at present hi no danger of being entirely driven from our islands, as the more extensive
broads and meres in the eastern counties olfcr them a safe retreat. The districts, however, that are suited to
their habits are fast In-coining much reduced; several spots when' they were formerly common have been
completely changed by the new style of farming and other innovations.
I n the cast of Norfolk this interesting species is still to In- b a n d in considerable numbers, though the
uevcr-lailiiig pees, lion they sutler from dealers and is dice tors tends to greatly restrict their munben. The
price of four shillings a dozen, which is nll'eroil for their eggs, induces the natives of those dreary wastes to
search diligently ; and but lew of tho lirst nests ever escape their sharp eyes. After the reeds get up to a
certain height it is more difficult to uuike out tho whereabouts of the birds; and consequently the later broods
escape. No one but a practised baud would ever discover the nest of this species. There are, however, in
the fen and broad districts generally a class of men who make a living by egging, canning, and fishing. This
occupation seems to have been handed down from lather to son; hut i am afraid that, like many of the rarer
denizens of the swamps, they will before long be cither driven from their quarters or forced to adopt a new
style of life.
Over twenty years ago I observed a small Hock in Uoiuoey -Marsh, in Kent, my attention being attracted
to the reed-lied by their clear boU-llke notes. Since that time 1 have occasionally visited the district, but
have never met with a single specimen.
The Bearded Titmouse commences its nesling-operatious as early as the latter end of March, anil would
in aU probability rear two or throe broods in a season if unmolested. The demand for their eggs, however, is
as previously stated, so great that hut few of the earlier nests escaiie. I have on severo! occasions seen young
birds able to leave the nest by the 1th or j t h of May, and so lata as the middle of August have known the
female silting on eggs; the nest was accidentally discovered on August Kith. Some years hack I noticed early
in the summer a couple of pairs ou a small island in Heighani Sounds, in Norfolk; and being then in want
of a speciiueu, I shot one of the male birds. On again visiting the spot a week or so later. I discovered that
the lone female had joined the other pair (whose nest with six fresh eggs I bad previously s.vul, and had laid
five eggs in their nest The two sets id' eggs, the one fresh-laid and the other liard-set, were easily
distinguished by their colour, both females liciug equally demonstrative and excited while we remained ia the
vicinity of their joint establishment. A day or two later the lirst eggs were hatched; hut I never aseertaincd
how tho BHOad clutch progressed.
I n winter the Iteed-Pheasants (as the marshmeti style these birds) join in Hocks varying from three or
four to leu or fifteen, and keep together till early in the spring. Though such delicate-look i m; little birds,