191 



b. Continental Great Tit, P. major major L. 



Plate 20, fig. 1—4 (Germany). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl. Tab. XVIII, fig. 2, a — c. Baedeker, 

 Tab. 43, fig. 9. Taczanowski, Tab. LXIV, fig. 1. Dresser, pi. — , fig. 

 25—28. 



Foreign Names: Bohemia: Sjenica velika. D enmsirk : Miisvitmeise. 

 Finland: Talitiainen. France: Mesange charbomiiere. Germany: Kohl- 

 meise. Holland: Koolmees, Plakker. Hungary: Szenczinege. Italy: Cin- 

 ciallegra. Norway: Kjodmeise, Talgite. Poland: Sikora hogatka. Portugal: 

 Chapim. Russia: Sinitza kusnetschik. Sweden: Talgoxe, Talgmes. Spain: 

 Santa Cruz, Carbonero. Parus major L. Dresser, t. c. {imrt) P. major 

 major L. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 341. 



Breeding Range: Continental Europe, from the Arctic Circle to 

 the Mediterranean, except Greece [Also W. Siberia to the Altai.]. 



The range of this widely distributed bird extends over nearly the *^°°" 



tinental 



whole of Europe. In Norway it is common up to lat. 64 , and breeds Europe. 

 sparsely up to the Arctic circle, while in Sweden it is found commonly 

 up to Norrland, and less frequently in the coniferous forests of S. Lap- 

 land. In Finland it is also numerous and is recorded as common in the 

 Vologda government, but is only a straggler to the high North, although 

 it has occurred on the Varanger Fjord. Over the whole of Middle 

 Europe it is found commonly wherever trees exist, but in the subalpine 

 regions it becomes scarce. Southward it is found in all the wooded 

 parts of the Iberian peninsula* and also in Italy, but is replaced ly 

 P. m. corsus in Corsica and Sardinia. In the Balkan peninsula it is 

 perhaps less common than in other parts of Europe, and is chiefly met 

 with in the hills, but the race inhabiting the plains of Greece has been 

 described as distinct. [In Asia it is found apparently from AV. Siberia 

 to the Altai range.] 



What has already been written with regard to the British form of Nest. 

 this bird applies equally well to the continental race. Leverkiihn and 

 others have recorded many instances in which the eggs of this bird have 

 been found in the same nest with those of other species, such as the 

 Blue Tit, Redbreast, Pied Flycatcher, Tree Creeper and Roller. (See 

 Fremde Eier im Neste, p. 105, and Zeit. f. Ool., VI, p. 13.). In E. 

 Prussia Hartert found it breeding in Woodpeckers' holes. 



Usually 10 — 12 in the first brood and 6 — 8 in the second, but Eggs. 

 clutches of 14 (Kollibay), 15 (Herold, J. f. 0., 1888, p. 435, and AViistnei 

 and Clodius) and even 16 (Fatio) are said to have been found. They 



* Whitaker (Birds of Tunisia, p. 135) attributes Spanish and Italian birds to 

 P. m. excelsus Buv. 



