502 PARID^. 



of most of its congeners. They measure from '67 to -58 by 

 from '51 to '48 in. 



In some seasons, according to Mr. Gray, this Titmouse is 

 more plentiful than in others, but his conjecture that the 

 increase arises from the arrival of migratory flights from 

 abroad is unsupported by evidence, and the fact is more 

 likely due to causes affecting the supply of food to the 

 home-bred birds. That the Crested Titmouse does occa- 

 sionally in winter wander from its usual haunts is, however, 

 shown by its occurrence in Argyleshire, in January, 1838, 

 mentioned by Macgillivray, and near Dumbarton, as com- 

 municated, by Dr. Smith in 1857, to the Royal Physical 

 Society of Edinburgh. Dr. Saxby saw two in Perthshire 

 early in April, 1858, and he also reports (Zool. p. 7998) his 

 having observed a small flock at Craig Lockhart near 

 Edinburgh, February 25th, 1862, whose actions he agree- 

 ably describes. It is said to have strayed even to England 

 and Ireland, and eight instances of its supposed occurrence 

 in the former are enumerated by Mr. Harting in his 

 useful ' Handbook,' to which a ninth, since recorded by 

 Mr. M. Simpson (Zool. s.s. p. 3021) has to be added; 

 while Mr. Blake-Knox informed Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser 

 of some three or more captures in Ireland. Many of these 

 cases, on enquiry, cannot be substantiated. 



The Crested Titmouse inhabits Norway, Sweden, Finland 

 and Russia to about lat. 64° N., but does not appear to be 

 found beyond the Ural, though it is recorded from the 

 Caucasus. Near Odessa it occurs only on passage and but 

 rarely. There is no report of its being met with in Turkey, 

 but it is common in Hungary and thence, through the Aus- 

 trian dominions, to the north of Italy, in the mountains of 

 which it breeds, but, according to Dr. Salvadori's recent work 

 on the birds of that country, its range there is by no means 

 so wide as several authors have alleged. In Spain it occurs 

 even near Gibraltar, and sometimes in Portugal. It is not 

 rare in France or Germany, but in each as well as in 

 Belgium and Holland it is very local. In nearly all these 

 countries, and in those which lie between them, it is very 



