445 



PARUS PALUSTRIS. THE MARSH TIT. 



MAUSH TITMOUSE. BLACK-HEADED TOMTIT 



Parus palustris. Linn. Syst. Nat. I. 341. 



Parus palustris. Lath. Ind. Orn. IL 565, 



Marsh Tit. Mont. Orn. Diet. 



M^sange nonnette. Parus palustris. Temm. Man. d'Orn. L 291. 



Marsh Tit. Parus palustris. Selb. lUustr. I. 237. 



Parus palustris. Marsh Tit. Jen. Brit. Vert. An. 123. 



The head and throat brownish-black, a broad patch of greyish- 

 ichite on the cheek and side of the neck; back greyish-brown, 

 lower parts brownish-yellow (no ichite on the nape or wing-coverts 

 as in the Coal Tit). 



Male. — The Marsh Tit is considerably larger than the Coal 

 Tit, from which, although very similar in colour, it is readily 

 distinguishable, by the dull or brownish black colour of the 

 head, and the want of the white patch so conspicuous on the 

 nape of that species. The bill is very similar to that of the last 

 species. The tarsi are of moderate length, stout, with eight dis- 

 tinct scutella, the hind claw very strong, and the anterior toes 

 much larger than those of the Coal Tit. The plumage is blended, 

 very soft and tufty, the feathers much elongated on the hind part 

 of the back. The wings are semiovate, convex, rounded, and of 



