34^ TRAVELS OF A NATURALIST 



of the pines, spruces, larch, and the high naked stems for 

 other birds. The females do not appear to perch high, 

 but creep stealthily about among the undergrowth and 

 lower spruces. 



Siberian Tit. — We got two pairs of this species, and two 

 single birds, and saw just one other pair. 



Waxioing. — Only two were seen, and these were shot ; 

 and one had to be sought for for three-quarters of an 

 hour at least before it was found. They turned out 

 S and ? by dissection. The eggs in the ovary of the 

 female were large, and nesting operations must surely 

 now be going on. The testicles of the male were also 

 largely developed. 



On neither S nor 5 was there any sign of the I 

 markings returning, i.e., beginning to form the J mark- 

 ings. Therefore, in young birds, as these are, these 

 marks are not of much assistance in determining the sex. 

 The low ' cissee ' notes of these birds were at first taken 

 for those of some Tit. The differences noted between 

 the S and ? are as follows : — 



The S has the black on the throat distinctly defined, 

 and deep in colour. 



The $ has the upper-tail-coverts distinctly darker 

 chestnut than the ? , which at Archangel, Alston and I 

 also found to be a good test, and we never once found it fail. 

 The difference of shade is as nearly as possible that 

 between a horse-chestnut exposed for a few hours to the 

 light, and one exposed as many days. 



The S has the yellow on the primaries more brilliant, 

 and the white larger, both on the primaries, secondaries, 

 and wing-coverts. 



The crest of the S is larger, and the (? is a larger bird 

 with longer wings. 



The wax appendages are larger, and there are more of 

 them in the $ . 



