be the bird lately described by Mr. Brooks as 8. cashmirensis,
though that seems to differ little from S. ccesia, and chiefly in
wanting any white on the lower tail-coverts. Canon Tristram
obtained an example of the latter in Palestine, and
Strickland did the like at Smyrna. It inhabits the mainland
of Turkey and Greece, and thence westward throughout the
remaining countries of continental Europe, occurring also in
Sicily but not in Sardinia. I t is also found in Algeria,
where it is said to breed, and it has been included among
the birds of the Canaries, but, as Dr. Bolle thinks, erroneously.
The bill is bluish-black, except the base of the lower mandible,
which is whitisli-brown : irides hazel: a black streak
runs from the base of the bill to each eye, and thence backward
along the side of the neck; top of the head, neck, back,
lesser wing-coverts, rump and the two middle tail-feathers,
uniform bluish slate-colour; the greater wing-coverts and
wing-quills dark slaty-brown, the outer webs tinged with
blue ; the remaining tail-feathers black for about tliree-fourths
of their length, grey at the tip, with a white patch between
these two colours on the three outer feathers of each side;
the chin and sides of the head white, passing into buff on
the throat, the colour becoming deeper on the breast and
belly; flanks and lower tail-coverts light chestnut, the latter
broadly tipped with white : legs, toes and claws, light brown.
The whole length of the male described rather less than
six inches; from the carpal joint to the tip of the wing,
three inches and one-quarter; the second primary rather
longer than the seventh, but shorter than the six th ; the
third, fourth and fifth nearly equal in length, but the fifth
rather the longest.
In the true Sitta europcea the upper parts are brighter, the
throat, breast and belly are pure white, and the legs, toes
and claws lead-colour.
P a ru s m a jo r , Linnæus*.
THE GREAT TITMOUSE.
Parus major.
P a r u s , Linnceusf.—Bill moderate, strong, straight, rather conical, slightly
compressed, upper mandible hardly longer than the lower, and not notched.
Nostrils basal, round, covered with reflected bristly feathers. Wings with ten
primaries, the first sh o rt; the second shorter than the ninth ; the third equal to
the seventh ; the fourth or fifth the longest. Tail moderate, even or s ightly
rounded Legs, with the tarsus moderate and scutellated ; feet strong, the anterior
toes united to the second joint, the outer toe longer than the inner ; the
hind toe strong, and armed with a stout, hooked claw.
S ome of the species of tlie genus Parus'are remarkable
for the beauty of their colours, and the well-defined character
of the markings, while others again present a very sombre
appearance; but all attract attention from their vivacity,
garrulity and ceaseless activity. They are indefatigable m
* Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, i. p. 311 (1766). + Tom. cit. p. 310.