their habits pretty closely. They are very Tit-like in
action, though they have very little, if any true affinity
to that family. I noticed that they climbed the reeds
from the water or crust of earth to the top, rapidly
examining the joints and insertions of the leaves for
insects, and lingering at the seed-bearing tops of the
plants, constantly uttering a very peculiar and bell-like
single note that in no way resembles that of any other
bird with which I am acquainted. After a close
examination of a certain seed-patch the parties would
fly off in a sort of single file with a jerking flight to
another spot, calling as they flew, and, except in the tone
of their calls, reminding me much of the Long-tailed
Titmouse.
In captivity these little birds become very tame, and
in a few instances I have succeeded in keeping them
alive for a considerable tim e; but although in some
respects hardy enough they require a great deal of care.
I never could induce any of my captives to make a nest,
though more than one laid eggs in their cages. At
roosting time, and indeed often during the day, my
Reedlings would sit closely huddled together in a line
on the same perch, constantly examining the plumage
of their next neighbour, and in every way showing a
love of close company.
I have never seen the nest of this species in situ,
but one in my collection from Holland was taken
from the crust from which a thick patch of reeds was
growing, and was composed of leaves of that plant, with
a few blades of sedge and a lining of the feathery reed-
tops. The principal food of this species consists of
small insects and the seeds of the reed; but in captivity
I found that ordinary soft-billed bird’s food suited
them well, and that dried ants’ eggs were very favourite
morsels.
The eggs are said to be generally five or six in
number, and are white, with irregular streaks and
speckles of black or very dark brown.
The Bearded Reedling is to be met with in suitable
localities almost throughout Central and Southern
Europe, and was formerly exceedingly abundant in the
vast reed-fens of the Netherlands. I noticed a habit in
this species that in my experience with caged birds is
by no means common—that of hanging suspended by
one foot to the wires at the top of their prisons for
sometimes several minutes without any apparent cause;
the only other bird that I have observed to adopt this
practice as an ordinary habit is the Grey Struthidea of
Australia, Struthidea cinerea, Gould.