I02 LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 



separate any but adult examples of these two races, Herr Lorenz 

 has not hesitated to describe A. irbii var. caitcasica ! Space fails for 

 the enumeration of the Siberian, Chinese and Japanese forms of 

 Long-tailed Tit upon which specific names have been conferred ; 

 but I may observe that from the Balkan Peninsula to Persia occur 

 two distinct species, A. tephronota and A. macedonica, in both of 

 which there is a black patch on the throat. 



Our form of the Long-tailed Tit is resident and tolerably abundant 

 throughout England and Wales, wherever the localities are suited to 

 its habits ; and, although somewhat more partial in its distribution 

 in Scotland, it is by no means uncommon there ; ranging as far west 

 as Skye, and wandering to the Shetlands. In Ireland it is resident 

 and common. 



The nest is oval, with a small hole in the upper part of the side, 

 and is composed of silvery lichens, green moss, wool and spiders' webs, 

 felted together, and lined with a profusion of feathers. Its form has 

 procured for its architect the name of ' Bottle-Tit ' ; while, owing to 

 the lining, the bird is frequently called the 'Feather-poke.' The 

 nest is often placed in the middle of a thick whitethorn, holly, or 

 furze-bush ; sometimes in ivy, or high up in the lichen-covered 

 branches of a tree ; occasionally in tangled masses of brambles and 

 creepers. The eggs, usually laid about the middle of April, are"white, 

 generally more or less speckled and streaked with light red, but some- 

 times merely suffused with that tint : measurements •53 by "42 in. 

 In number they are usually from 7 to 10 ; but 16 young birds have 

 been found in the same nest, without any evidence of their being the 

 produce of more than one female. When sitting, the long tail of the 

 bird is turned over its back, and often projects above its head through 

 the entrance-hole. Two broods are often reared in the season, and 

 subsequently the family may be seen flitting in single file from one 

 hedge-row to aiiother with a remarkably dipping motion. The usual 

 note is a shrill zee, zee, zee. The food consists of insects and their larvae. 



Adult male (British) : front and crown white, bordered on each 

 side by a black line, running from the base of the bill over the eye 

 to the nape and upper back, which are also black ; scapulars and 

 lower back dull rose ; wings dark brown, margined with white on 

 the secondaries ; tail-feathers black, the three outer pairs broadly 

 tipped and margined with white ; cheeks and throat dull white ; 

 upper breast white with a few black streaks ; belly and flanks dull 

 rose; bill, legs and feet black. Length 5-5 in. ; wing 2*45 in. The 

 female has rather more black about the head ; the young are duller 

 in colour and have no rosy tint on the upper parts. 



