PARIDAE 



539 



by bristly feathers, are exposed in Xerophila and Sphenostoma. 

 Crests occur in the last-named and at times in Parvs. 



The colour of the soft, lax plumage is commonly dull ; but 

 Farus may be glossy greenish -black and yellow, as in the 

 Sultan-bird (P. sultaneus) ; 

 black with white on the 

 wings, tail, or l<t\ver parts, as 

 in P. niger and a few other 

 African species ; blue and 

 white, with a little black and 

 grey or a yellow fore-neck, as 

 in P. cyanns and P. Jiavi- 

 pectus ; blue, Ijlack, greenish, 

 yellow, and white, as in the 

 British Great and Blue Tits 

 (P. major and P. cacridetis) ; 

 olive, brown, or grey, varied 

 with black, white, chestnut, or 

 buff, as in our Crested Tit (P. 

 cristcUas) ; or lastly, the tints 

 while including but little 

 yellow or l^lue, as in our Coal 

 and Marsh Tits (P. hritannicus and P. p)C('lustris), may be greyish 

 or olive on the back, with a black head, white cheeks, and huffish- 

 white under parts, the former species having a white nuchal patch. 

 Psaltria is brown, grey, white, and buff; Psaltrlparus is similar; 

 Xerophila and Sphenostoma are brown, with yellowish-white, buff, 

 or brown and white lower surface ; Certhipartis is red-brown, with 

 a grey nape and dull white breast. Acredula, containing the Long- 

 tailed Tits, is black and white with a more or less pronounced rosy 

 wash, or may be rufous, or brown and grey, with pinkish or fawn 

 under parts, two species having chestnut heads. Aegithahis and 

 Aariparas are rufous-brown, yellow-green, or greyisli above, with 

 black and white, orange-red, or yellow heads ; and are commonly 

 rufous and white, yellow, or whitish below, occasionally with bay 

 marks. The sexes are very similar, the young often yellower. 



Titmice are ordinarily non - migratory, Parus occupying 

 most of the globe, except South America and the Australian 

 Eegion east of Lombok and Flores ; Psaltria is confined to Java, 

 Acredula to the Palaearctic and Indian countries, Aegithalus to 



Fig. 121. 



-Great Titmouse. 



Pants major. 



