In the house they require the same treatment as the blue tit, and even greater attention; they can rarely be tamed when taken full grown[115].
Food.—In a wild state it feeds in the same manner as the cole tit.
In the house it must be first fed on ants’ eggs, flies, and meal-worms. It will afterwards eat nuts and hemp-seed, like the other tits, but it seems to require insects occasionally.
Breeding.—The nest is formed like that of the cole tit, and placed in the hole of a tree, amongst some stones, or in large forsaken nests. The brood consists of from six to ten snow-white eggs, spotted with bright red. The young must be reared on meal-worms cut small and ants’ eggs.
Mode of Taking.—This is the same which is adopted for catching the cole tits. Its call is “gærrky.”
Attractive Qualities.—Its song is not striking, but its form and habits are very pleasing.
