Species of Passerine Birds. 55 



The sexes of A. sicula appear to be identical, or nearly so, 

 in their plumage_, colouring, and markings, as well as in their 

 soft parts and measurements. The young of this species, as 

 shown in the accompanying Plate, differs from the adult bird 

 in having the greater part of the upper plumage brown, while 

 the centre of the crown and the fringes of the scapulars and 

 secondaries are whitish ; moreover^ on the underparts the 

 rose-colour on the flanks and crissum is less pronounced. The 

 respective measurements of old and fully-grown young birds 

 seem to be the same, except with regard to the tail, which 

 is rather longer in the latter, owing perhaps to the absence 

 of wear and tear. 



With respect to the distribution of A. sicula in Sicily, 

 I may say that it apjiears to occur only in the more wooded 

 inland districts of the island, and at elevations varying 

 from 700 to 1500 metres above sea-level, according to the 

 time of year and according to the more sheltered or more 

 exposed position of the woods frequented. On the sea-coast 

 and in the low-lying districts of the island the species appears 

 not to be found. The woods frequented by this Titmouse 

 vary in character according to their altitude, those lower 

 down being maiidy composed of deciduous and evergreen oaks 

 [Quercus robur, Q. suber, and Q. ilex), chestnuts, and olive- 

 trees, while the higher forests are almost exclusively of 

 deciduous oak and beech, although the ilex oak also flourishes 

 on some of the higher hills. Apparently, however, the 

 character of the woods is immaterial to the birds, which 

 seem as much at home among the low-growing olive-groves 

 as they do among the lofty forest oaks. 



The first examples I obtained of A. sicula were procured at 

 the beginning of February in the Bosco di Fienzza, a well- 

 wooded inland district, about 750 metres above sea-level, 

 lying to the south of Palermo. The woods in this neigh- 

 bourhood are composed chiefly of oak, both evergreen aud 

 deciduous, with a few elms and ash trees, and with a luxuriant 

 undergrowth of low-growing plants, mostly of the maquis 

 description. Throughout the month of February and the 

 early part of March this Titmouse continued to occur 

 in the Fienzza woods more or less plentifully, but by 



