282 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



650. Melanochlora sultanea, Hodgson. 



Parus, apud Hodgson, Ind. Rev. 1836— Horsf., Cat. 594— 

 P. flavocristatus, LAFRiiSN., Mag. Zool. 1837, pi. 80— Blyth, Cat. 

 534 — Melanochlora Sumatrana, Lesson, Eev. Zool. — Crataiouyx 

 flava, Eyton. — Bon ti/Ua-pho, Lepch. 



The Sultan Yellow-Tit. 



Descr. — Head above (with a long and pointed crested) yellow ; 

 rest of the npper parts, with the throat, neck, and breast, glossy 

 green-black ; abdomen- bright yellow, paling on the under tail- 

 coverts. The female has the parts black that are in the male, 

 blackish or rifle-green, and the yellow less vivid. 



Bill black ; legs slaty ; irides dark brown. Length 8 inches ; extent 

 13i ; wing 4 ; tail 3^ ; bill at front -| ; tarsus f . 



This magnificent Tit is only found in the warmer valleys, of 

 the Himalayas, extending into Assam, and through Burmah to 

 the Malayan peninsula, and even to Sumatra. It has not, I believe, 

 been found in the N. W. Himalayas. Near Darjeeling it is com- 

 mon in the valley of the great Rungeet, about 1,200 feet, and thence 

 extends to about 4,000 or so. It frequents the tops of high trees, 

 in small flocks, feeding on insects chiefly, and has a rather load 

 note. The Lepchas told me that it bred in holes in high trees, but 

 did not brino- the nest or esffjs. 



Hodgson says " it is found in the Central and Northern region 

 of the hills, passing into the Southern in winter ; is exceedingly 

 fond of caterpillars, and occ-asionally takes pulpy berries. 



There are several other Pari from Asia, chiefly from Japan and 

 China. Numerous species of Titmice occur in Europe and Africa. 

 The Blue-Tits have been separated as Cf/anistes, Kaup ; they are the 

 prettiest of the tribe. The Marsh-Tit, P. palustiis, is the type of 

 Kaup's genus Poscila, in which Bonaparte classes my P. nuchalis, 

 Proparus vinipectiii^, and the species placed by me under ^E<jitha- 

 liscus ; also a species from Kamtschatka. The African Tits are 

 placed under Melaniparvs, Bonap., and Parus; and the American 

 Tits under Lovhnphanes and Poecila. 



The bearded Tit of Europe, Calamophihm hiarmicus {Pimurus, 

 Koch), differs remarkably from all the other Tits, and is considered 



