gS COAL-TITMOUSE. 



forms as climatic races and under one specific head, as done by 

 Dr. Gadow (Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. viii. p. 40). 



The Coal-Tit is a resident species in Great Britain and Ireland, 

 and appears to have increased during the present century ; although 

 it is still, as a rule, less numerous than the Great and Blue Tits. In 

 Scotland, while somewhat local, it is fairly distributed ; except in 

 the Outer Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetlands. On the Continent 

 the greyer-backed race is found in summer as far north as lat. 65° ; 

 a partial migration taking place in winter; but in the central and 

 southern portions of Europe the bird is generally distributed as 

 a resident. In Algeria it is represented by I^. ledouxi^ with cheeks, 

 nuchal spot and under parts yellow — much like the young of our 

 bird. In the rnountains of Cyprus Dr. Guillemard obtained a form 

 described by Mr. Dresser as P. Cypriotes (Ibis 1888); distinguished 

 by a tint on the back even browner than in British specimens, a 

 nearly obsolete nuchal patch, and a greater amount of black on the 

 throat. In the Caucasus a larger form, P. //lic/ialozcskii, occurs, 

 intermediate in tint between that of our islands and the typical 

 race of the Continent ; and under various other names, as the bird 

 increases in brightness of colour and length of crest, the Coal-Tit is 

 found across Asia to China and Japan. 



The nest, commenced early in April, is placed in a hole in a 

 tree, a crevice in a wall, and not unfreq^uently a mouse's burrow in a 

 bank or the level ground ; while Mr. Bond found one on the branch 

 of a fir-tree, close to the bole. Moss and wool, rabbits' fur or deer's 

 hair, are the materials ; the eggs, 6-9, being white, spotted with light 

 red : average measurements "6 by "45 in. The note is rather more 

 shrill than that of its congeners. The young of the Coal-Tit are fed 

 largely upon green caterpillars ; but besides insects, nuts, as well as 

 seeds — especially those of the Scotch fir, are eaten. 



Adult male : crown and nape glossy blue-black, with a white nuchal 

 spot ; cheeks and sides of the neck white ; back grey, tinged with 

 olive in most British specimens ; rump brownish-fawn ; quills ash- 

 brown, with dull white margins to the secondaries ; wing-coverts 

 tipped with white, which forms two bars; tail ash-brown; throat black; 

 breast dull white, passing into fawn on the belly and flanks ; bill, legs 

 and feet dark horn-colour. Length 4*2 in. ; wing 2-5 in. Female: 

 slightly duller in colour. Young : no gloss on the head ; cheeks, 

 nape-spot and under parts suffused with sulphur-yellow; upper 

 feathers tinged with olive. The white nape of the Coal-Tit readily 

 distinguishes this species from the Marsh-Tit. 



