80 PASSERES. 



The Japanese Tit may always be recognized by its chestnut flanks 

 and buff forehead. 



Figures : Tcmniinck and Schlegcl, Fauna Japonica, AveSj pi. 35. 



The Japanese Tit is supposed to be only a summer visitor to Yezzo, 

 whence there is an example in the Swinhoe collection obtained by 

 Caj)tain Blakiston at Ilakodadi in April (Swinhoe, Il)is, 1874, p. 155) ; 

 but it is a resident in Hondo, whence there are four examples from 

 Yokohama in the Pryer collection. 



It has occurred in Febniary in the Corcan Peninsula, but it is 

 not known whether it breeds there or not (Taczanowski, Proc. Zool. 

 Soc. 1887, p. GOl). 



It is a favourite cage-bird with the Japanese. Its note is described 

 as resembling that of the Little Woodpecker. Like the other Tits 

 it frequents the pines, but it is much less sociable and is generally 

 seen alone or in pairs (Jouy, Proc. United States Nat. Mus. 1883, 

 p. 287). 



The Japanese Tit is represented in Formosa by a smaller race, 

 which is figured in Gould's * Birds of Asia/ ii. pi. 49, and was 

 originally described as Parus castaneiventris (Gould, Proc. Zool. Soc. 

 180:2, p. 280). 



An example of the Formosan race of the Japanese Tit was collected 

 by Mr. Namiye at Nagogatake, in the central group of the Loo- 

 Choo Islands, on the 10th of March (Stejneger, Proc. United States 

 Nat. Mus. 1880, p. 050). 



The Formosan Tit is only known from three or four examples 

 which vary slightly in size (wing from carpal joint 235 to 2'4 inches). 

 The example obtained on the Loo-Choo Islands is rather larger (wing 

 2'Ot inches), and it is probable that a larger series would bridge over 

 the distance between it and the Japanese species, which is larger still 

 (wing 2*8 to 3*1 inches). The example from the Loo-Choo Islands 

 is described as agreeing with the Formosan race in having less 

 chestnut on the upper mantle, as being intermediate between the 

 two in having indications of a creamy patch on the upper breast, 

 atid as agreeing with pale examples of the Japanese race in the 

 colour of its flanks. 



The Formosan Tit and its close ally the Japanc se Tit appear to have 

 no near relations ; but it is possible that the latter is the Japanese re- 

 presentative of the Blue Tit {Pams carulceus), of which the Azure Tit 

 {Punis cyunitx) is the Siberian representative, and Parus ultmmaiinus 

 the North-African representative. All these species, which appear 



