TITS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 421 



S. Parus Ater. Coal Tit. Head, hind-neck and throat 

 glossy bluish-black ; sides of the neck and a patch on the nape, 

 white. 



4. Parus palustris. Marsh Tit. Head, hind-neck, and 

 throat dull brownish-black ; sides of the neck greyish-white ; 

 no white on the nape. 



5. Parus cristatus. Crested Tit. Occipital feathers elon- 

 gated^ pointed, and slightly recurved, forming a conspicuous 

 crest. 



GENUS II. MECISTURA. MUFFLIN. 



Bill very short, straight, strong, its outlines very convex, 

 the point of the upper mandible destitute of notch and very 

 acute ; toes of moderate strength ; claws long, little arched, high, 

 and tapering to an extremely acute point ; wings rather long, 

 concave, rounded, the first quill very small, the fourth and 

 fifth longest, and considerably exceeding those on each side ; 

 tail very long, narrow, graduated, and nearly straight. 



1. Mecistura longicaudata. Long-tailed Mufflin. Head 

 white, with a black band on each side, back black, scapulars 

 and abdomen light red. 



