[Illustration]
Parus biarmicus, LINNÆUS; La Mésange barbue, BUFFON; Die
Bartmeise, BECHSTEIN.
This singular species is somewhat in shape like the oxeye. It is six
inches and a half in length, and measures ten and a quarter across the
expanded wings; the tail is two and three quarters. The beak is four
lines long, a little bent at the point, and is orange during life, but
becomes pale yellow after death; it is surrounded at the base with black
hairs. The iris is yellow; the shanks are one inch high, and black; the
head is pale ash grey; a tuft of black feathers, which are placed under
the eyes and terminate in a point, is no very slight imitation of a
moustache. The tail is wedge-shaped, inclining to orange; the outer
feathers are dark at the base and whitish at the tip; the third is
tipped with white.
The female is without the beard, or moustache[116]; the top of the head
is rust red, spotted with black; the vent is of the same colour as the
belly.
HABITATION.--In a wild state these birds are found where there are
lakes, large ponds, and extensive marshes full of reeds and aquatic
plants; they rarely show themselves in summer, keeping in pairs
amongst the tufted reeds; but they are seen in winter, when food
failing them in these retreats, they fly about in families, perching
on the trees and bushes[117].
In the house they must be kept in a large cage to allow them plenty
of exercise, unless permitted to range the room, which is still
better.
FOOD.--When wild this bird feeds principally on aquatic insects and
the seeds of the common reed (_Arundo phragmitis_).
In the house they are generally first fed on poppy-seed, ants' eggs,
and meal-worms, and afterwards on bruised hemp-seed and the food
common for the other tits. It is best to rear them from the nest, as
it is very difficult to preserve those taken when full grown.
BREEDING.--The knowledge on this head is very limited: the nest,
placed in the interwoven stems of the reeds, is in the shape of a
purse, and composed of dried grass and the down of several plants. In
this the female lays four or five speckled eggs, with a pale red
ground. The young birds should be taken from the nest when they are
ready to fly, and fed on ants' eggs and meal-worms cut small.
MODE OF TAKING.--There is much difficulty in this. Fishermen who know
the places frequented by this species place limed twigs on the reeds,
and try gently to drive them towards one side, and sometimes catch a
few[118].
ATTRACTIVE QUALITIES.--In this bird are united beautiful plumage, a
graceful shape, and sprightliness. Its song resembles that of the
blue tit, but its call is very different. It is a pity it is so
difficult to obtain. Buffon says that all of this species that are
found in England sprang from a pair the Countess of Albemarle
suffered to escape; but most likely they had not been seen before
from want of attention.
[Illustration: CATO'S DOVE'S BREEDING CAGE.]