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.] DOVES.