112 BIRDS OF SOUTH AFRICA. 



The Sub-Family, PARING, or Titmice, 



have the bill short, strong, rather conical, and straight, 

 with the culmen straight, or slightly curved to the tip, which 

 is entire ; the nostrils lateral, basal, and generally concealed 

 by the projecting frontal plumes ; the wings moderate and 

 pointed, with the three first quills graduated; the tail more 

 or less long, rounded, and even ; the tarsi rather long, 

 slender, and covered in front with scales ; the toes moderate, 

 with the inner toe the shortest; the claws strong, and much 

 curved. 



Genus PARUS, Linn. 

 Bill short, strong, conic, with the culmen more or less 

 curved, and the sides compressed to the tip, which is entire 

 and acute, the gonys moderate and ascending ; the nostrils 

 lateral and basal, with the opening small, rounded, and con- 

 cealed by the projecting frontal plumes ; wings moderate, 

 with the first quill very short ; the third rather shorter than 

 the fourth and fifth, which are equal and longest ; tail more 

 or less long and rounded, or even ; tarsi rather longer than 

 the middle toe, and covered in front with transverse scales ; 

 toes moderate, with the lateral ones nearly equal ; the hind 

 toe very long and strong, and armed with a long, curved, 

 and acute claw. 



209. ParUS CinereUS, Vieil. ; p. Atnceps, Horsf. 

 PI. Col. 287, f 2. ; Le Messange Brune a poitrine 

 noir, Le Vail., PI. 139, f 2. 



Top of the head, throat, chest, and tail, black ; cheeks and 

 lateral tail-feathers edged with white ; it has also a small 

 white collar. The under side is a greyish brown, the black 

 of the chest forming a breastplate-shaped mark on it, extend- 

 ing down the belly ; the upper parts darker than the lower ; 

 irids black. Length, about 5f" ; wing, 3" ; tail, 2" 3'". 



Althougli Le Vaillaut states tliat this species is found in tlie envi- 

 rons of tlie Cape, I have never obtained it nearer than Beaufort West, 

 •where it was first killed in company with the M. Senegalensis by Mr. 

 Jackson's son. In this locality it has plenty of rocks and mountain, 

 which Le Vaillant says are its habitual resort, and amid which it 

 breeds, making a voluminous nest, composed of wool and feathers, in 

 the crevices, and laying from 8 to 14 eggs. I never found more tban 

 five in a nest. They are white, with red spots and blotches : axis, 

 9'" ; diam., 7'". 



Mr. Andersson brought the species from Damaraland, and I have 

 also received it from Colesberg and Kurumau. 



During my visit to Mr. Jackson at NeVs Poort, I obtained several 

 nests in the crevices of an old brick tank or bath, which was constantly 



