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Head and nape black. Back 

 and wings brownish gray. A black 

 spot on the throat. Breast and abdo- 

 men giay. This bird varies consider- 

 ably over its wide range, and has been 

 divided into numerous subspecies, all 

 of which intergrade. 



Distribution. — British Isles, across 

 Asia to Japan. A rare resident in 

 the Yangtse Valley, more common in 

 North China. 



Nest andEggs. — The nest of this bird, 

 like that of some of the other Tits, 

 is usually placed in decayed stumps or 

 hollow trees where holes are available, 

 though this bird has been known to 

 dig a hole for its nest in rotten wood. 

 The excavation is lined with soft 

 materials, such as mosses and hair, 

 tightly pressed together. 



There are generally five or six eggs 

 to a clutch and the ground color is 

 pure white or white with a yellowish 

 tinge, and this is blotched or spotted 

 over with a rusty red. 



THE SILVEE-THKOATED TIT. 



aegithalos glaucogularis 

 (gould.) 



Description. — Length five inches. 

 Bill black, very short. Tarsus black. 



Crown black, with a fawn colored 

 stripe down the center to the nape. 

 Back bluish gray, wings dusky black. 

 Tail black, with outer feathers edged 

 white, as long as the body, and 

 graduated. A silver gray spot on the 

 throat. Breast and abdomen very 

 light reddish gray. 



Young birds are more brown above. 

 The gray throat patch is lacking, and 

 ^he whole throat and breast are rufous 

 , rown. 



