94 LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 



two forms, yet Herr Lorenz has not hesitated to describe A. irbii 

 var. caucasica ! Space fails for the enumeration of the Siberian, 

 Chinese and Japanese forms of Long-tailed Tit upon which specific 

 names have been conferred ; but I may observe that from the 

 Balkan Peninsula to Persia occurs a really distinct species, A. 

 tephi'onata, with a black patch on the throat. 



Our form of the Long-tailed Tit is resident and tolerably abundant 

 throughout England and Wales, wherever the localities are suited to 

 its habits; and, although somewhat more partial in its distribution in 

 Scotland, it is by no means uncommon there ; ranging as far west as 

 Skye, and occurring as a straggler in the Shetlands. In Ireland, 

 according to Mr. More, it is resident and common. 



The nest is oval, with a small hole in the upper part of the side, 

 and is composed of silvery lichens, green moss, wool and spiders' 

 webs felted together, and lined with a profusion of feathers and 

 hair. Its form has procured for its maker the name of ' Bottle-Tit ' ; 

 while, owing to the materials, the bird is frequently called the 

 ' Feather-poke.' The nest is often placed in the middle of a thick 

 whitethorn, holly, or furze-bush ; sometimes in ivy, or high up in 

 the lichen-covered branches of a tree ; occasionally in tangled masses 

 of brambles and creepers. The eggs are white, generally more or 

 less speckled and streaked with light red, but sometimes merely 

 suffused with that tint : average measurements '53 by "42 in. In 

 number they are usually 7 to 8 ; but 16 young birds have been 

 found in the same nest, without any evidence of their being the 

 production of more than one female. When sitting, the long tail 

 of the parent-bird is turned over her back, and projects above her 

 head through the entrance-hole. Two broods are often reared in 

 the season, and subsequently the family may often be seen flitting in 

 single file from one hedge-row to another with a remarkably dipping 

 motion. The usual note is a shrill zee, zee, -zee. The food consists 

 of insects and their larvae. 



Adult male : front and crown white, bordered on each side by a 

 black line running from the base of the bill over the eye, and 

 joining the nape and upper back, which are also black ; scapulars and 

 lower back dull rose ; wings dark brown, margined with white on the 

 secondaries ; tail-feathers black, the three outer pairs broadly tipped 

 and margined with white ; cheeks and throat dull white ; upper 

 breast white with a few black streaks ; belly and flanks dull rose ; 

 bill, legs and feet black. Length 5-5 in. ; wing 2-5 in. The female 

 has rather more black about the head ; the young are duller in 

 colour and have no rosy tint on the upper parts. 



