74 



EUROPEAN* MA RSII-TITS. 



remarks that the margins of the quills and tail-feathers are of the same 

 color as, or somewhat lighter than, the back. 



My specimens from Sweden and Norway show differences correspond- 

 ing to the discrepancies observed in the descriptions of the above au- 

 thors. The Swedish examples have the back more like true P. palustris, 

 though somewhat paler, while those from Western Norway are equally 

 dark, but more ashy; the Swedish ones have quite conspicuous whitish 

 edgings to the secondaries, while in the Norwegian ones there is no 

 difference between the color of the edges of the secondaries and the 

 back. But these are not all the differences, for in the Norwegian birds 

 the top of the head is deep black (though without gloss) against brownish 

 black in those from Sweden, and the former have the under tail-coverts 

 gray, like the color of the back, while in the latter these feathers are 

 whitish, like the abdomen. In fact, these forms appear to be as distinct 

 as any two in this group. I shall discuss the pertinency of the name 

 P. borealw further on. Suffice it to say here, that I find no name appli- 

 cable to the Norwegian bird, which, in honor of m3 T friend, Prof. Rob- 

 ert Collett, I propose to call 



Parus colletti, sp. nov. 



Diagnosis. — Tail regularly and strongly rounded; top of head and 

 nape pure black without gloss ; color of back smoke gray ; outer margins 

 of secondaries similar, scarcely lighter; under tail-coverts gray like the 

 back. Longest tail-feathers 56 mm . 



Habitat. — Norway (western portion only?). 



Type.— U. S. Nat. Mils., No. 113225. 



According to my views, there occur, consequently, three forms of 

 Marsh-tits in the Scandinavian peninsula, the most salient charcters of 

 which, apart from the shape of the tail, may be contrasted as follows: 



/'. palustris. 



P. borcalis. 



(1) To]) of head anil nape bluish ' pure black ; 

 black: \ 



(2) Back " wood-brown " gray : 



(3) Secondaries with margins of the 

 same color ; 



(4) Under tail-coverts whitish ; 



pale butty gray ; 



margins of secondaries whitish ; 



whitish ; 



P. colletti. 



brownish black. 



" Bmoke-gray." 

 margins of secondaries like 

 the back. 



smoke-gray. 



P. colletti belongs undoubtedly as a subspecies to the P. boreal in 

 group, as distinguished from P. palustris, which I consider a distinct 

 species. Time will show whether a trinomiual appellation for Collett's 

 Marsh-tit will be necessary. The distribution of the two forms on the 

 Scandauavian peninsula can at present only be guessed at. All that can 

 be said now is that P. colletti seems to be western and P. borealis eastern. 



A glance at the tables of measurements below, which give the data 

 concerning the specimens examined hy me, will show that the specimens 

 of I', borcalis, as far as the time of their collecting is given, are winter 

 birds, while those of P. colletti are shot in summer. However, No. 

 113225 of the latter is in new autumnal plumage, which according to 





