ACREDULA. _ 485 
Genus ACREDULA. 
Both Brisson and Linneus included the Long-tailed Tit in the genus 
Parus, a course which is still followed by many naturalists. The Long- 
tailed Tit was simultaneously removed from the genus Parus in 1816 by 
Koch and Leach, the former writer establishing the genus Acredula, in his 
‘Systema der baierischen Zoologie,’ p. 199, and the latter, in his ‘ Syste- 
matic Catalogue,’ p. 17, adopting the name of Mecistura for the bird. It 
is impossible to say which writer has the precedence; but as Koch carefully 
pointed out the characters on which his new genus was based, and as Leach 
merely changed the name without giving any diagnosis whatever, it is only 
bare justice to adopt that of the former writer. As A. caudata was the 
only species known to Koch, it becomes of course the type. 
The Long-tailed Tits differ from the true Tits (Parus) in having the tail 
much longer than the wing and graduated. In other respects they do not 
differ much; but their plumage is of a looser texture, and their style of 
coloration is peculiar. 
The birds in this genus are apparently confined to the Palearctic Region; 
but in the Nearctic Region they are represented by the very nearly allied 
genus Psaltriparus. It contains about seven species, of which four ares 
European, one of which is a common resident in and the other an occa- 
sional straggler to our islands. 
The Long-tailed Tits do not differ much in their habits from their con- 
geners; they are perhaps more gregarious, and wander about in small 
parties in search of food. The haunts they frequent are similar to those 
of the other Tits. They do nut possess any song. They build beautiful 
dome-shaped nests of moss, lichens, feathers, wool, &c., usually placing 
them in bushes. Their eggs are numerous, pure white in colour, sparingly 
speckled with reddish brown. 
