138 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



I have no examples of the species from Marocco, but it may occur 

 there, although Mr. Meade-Waldo has recently discovered a new form 

 of Coal-Tit in that country, to which he has given the name of Paras 

 atlas (Bull. B. 0. C. xii, p. 27). This new form, which appears to be 

 abundant throughout the moister woods of the Maroccan Atlas, 

 ascending as high as the limit of trees or scrub vegetation, may 

 perhaps entirely replace P. ledoiici in that country. 



In the Tunisian Regency the range of P. ledoucl seems to be 

 strictly confined to the wooded parts of the north, and I have never 

 heard of its occurrence anywhere south of the Atlas. Mr. Aplin 

 found it fairly common in the higher oak-forests of Ghardimaou 

 and El Fedja, although not in the lower-lying cork-woods, where 

 .P. major and P. ultramarinus are abundant. M. Blanc reports the 

 species as by no means uncommon in the woods of Ain-Draham and 

 at Camp de la Sante, from whence I have numerous specimens. 



I never met with this Tit in the Aleppo pine forests of the moun- 

 tains near Kasrin and El Oubira, where one would expect to find it, 

 as it is not uncommon in the pine-woods of the Aures range further 

 west. 



In many ways the present species seems to resemble our European 

 Coal-Tit, and like other Titmice, is often to be found in the company 

 of its congeners, busily engaged in hunting for food, and when thus 

 employed is by no means shy. 



In spring-time, however, it is generally to be found in pairs, and, 

 according to Dr. Koenig, the species is less gregarious than most other 

 Tits, being rarely observed in companies, like P. ultramarinus and 

 P. major. In many of its habits, however, Dr. Koenig considers that 

 it resembles our European Coal-Tits to a great extent. Its song is 

 soft and pleasing, and its call note sharp and clear. The stomachs of 

 those I obtained contained only the remains of small insects, but the 

 species is said to feed largely upon seeds, particularly those of conifers. 

 I have not myself been fortunate enough to meet with the nest and 

 eggs of P. ledouci, and thus far little appears to be known regarding 

 the nesting of the species, the only positive information we possess on 

 the subject bemg, apparently, that given by Malherbe, when describing 

 the bird as new (Mem. Soc. His. Nat. Moselle, 1842, p. 45). This 

 was to the effect that M. Ledoux, the French officer after whom the 

 species was named, had taken one of these Tits on a nest placed 

 fifteen centimetres deep in the ground in the Forest of Edough, near 



