12 Nicholson, Palcearaic Species of Coal-Tits. 



Parus {Peripariis) 7/iehi?iolophiis, Hellm., "Tierreich, Paridae,' 



p. 76 (1902). 

 Periparus 7nelanolophiis, Bianchi, t.c, p. 245; Sharpe, " Handl. 

 B.," vol. 4, p. 326 (1903). 

 With distinct white spots on the median and greater 

 wing-coverts ; under surface of body grey. 



Hab. N.-VV. Himalayas, from Kumaon to Murree and 

 Kashmir (Gilgit), Mountains of Afghanistan. 



Parus ater. 



Parus ater, Linn., " Syst. Nat.," vol. i, p. 341 (1766); Prazak, 



t.c, p. 4 (1894); Dresser, "Man. Pal. Birds," vol. i, 



p. 164 (1902). 

 Parus {^Periparus) ater ater, Hellmayr, "Tierreich, Paridae," 



p. 78 (1902). 

 Periparus ater, Bianchi, t.c, p. 245 ; Sharpe, " Handl. B.," vol. 4, 



p. 325 (1903). 

 Parus ater ater, Hartert, " Vug. Pal. Fauna," part 3, p. 356 (1905). 



With white spots on the median and greater wing- 

 coverts ; under surface of body whitish, with the sides 

 distinctly washed with rust-colour ; back ashy-blue ; no 

 distinct crest or top-knot ; rump with a slight wash of 

 olive-yellowish. 



Hab. The whole of Europe and Siberia to the Gulf of 

 the Amur and Kamtchatka. 



In addition to its blue-grey back, the sandy-buff sides 

 of the body are, in P. ater, decidedly duller in colour, and 

 incline to smoky-brown. Scandinavian specimens are 

 very clear blue-grey, but show a faint tinge of olive in the 

 winter dress. A similar faint shade of olive is to be found 

 on a few birds from the Vosges Mountains, obtained in 

 October and November, but otherwise birds from Eastern 

 France, Holland, and Belgium appear to be identical with 

 those from Norway. Birds from Asia Minor are rather 

 paler blue. 



