PARUS. / / 



Nidification. Breeds freely iu Kashmir and elsewhere, from 

 3,500 feet up to 9,000 feet or higher. The eggs four to six, or 

 even seveu, are more richly coloured than are those of the Indian 

 Grrey-Tit and measure about IS'5 x 13'5 mm. The breeding 

 season is from the end of April to early June. 



Habits as in the other Grey-Tits. 



(54) Parus major planorum. 

 The Punjab Grey-Tit. 



Parus major planortim Hartert, Nov.Zool., 1905, p. 499 (S. Punjab). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. This bird is a small replica of the Kashmir Grey- 

 Tit, much the same size as cinereus but decidedly paler. 



Colours of soft parts as in cinereus. 



Measurements. Wing 63 to 70 mm. ; tail 52 to 63 mm. 



Distribution. Plains of N.W. India and Punjab. 



Nidification. Nothing recorded. Eggs of a clutch sent me, and 

 said to have been taken at Lahore, average about IT'S x 13'4 mm. 



Habits as usual, but according to Hartert this is purely a plains 

 form though there is verj' little material available for study in the 

 shape of breeding specimens. 



(55) Parus major mahrattanim. 



The Southern Grey-Tit. 

 Pants major ma/irattarum HAvtert, Nov. Zool., 1905, p. 499 (Ceylon). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Similar to the Indian Grey-Tit or even darker, 

 the nuchal patch hardly noticeable and the tail-feathers wholly 

 black on both webs, with only narrow grey edges to the outer 

 Avebs. Tlie black central streak on the abdomen is generally very 

 wide. 



Measurements. AViug 63 to 74 mm. ; tail 51 to 62 mm. 



Distribution. The whole of Central and South India and 

 Ceylon. It is found as far north as Northern Bombay across to 

 Chota Nagpore and E. Bengal. 



Nidification. Breeds throughout its range in the more hillv 

 parts which are well wooded. In the northern drier countries it 

 lays iu Eebruary, March, and early April; in South India in 

 March and April and in the higher hills in April to June, whilst in 

 Poona Betham took eggs as late as August, possibly second 

 broods. The eggs are more richly coloured, as a rule, than 

 those of cinereus and the average size of 30 eggs is I7'4x 13-6 mm. 



JiH 



