197 



Canarian group no fewer than four distinct forms are found, viz., 

 P. c. degener Hart., which inhabits Fuertaventura and Lanzarote, nesting 

 in holes in the ground: P. c. teneriffae Less, in Tenerife, Grran Canaria 

 and Gomera, whose eggs, 4 — 6 in number (figured in Cat. Eggs. Br. 

 Mus. IV. pi. XIV, fig. 6) are spotted, chiefly at the big end, with dark 

 brown; average size of 39 eggs (2 by Konig and 37 by the writer), 

 15.61X12.4 mm., Max. 17x12.4 and 16.3x13, Min. 14.5x12.1 and 

 14.7x11.7 mm: F. c. ombriosxis M-Waldo on Hierro, and P. c. palmeusis 

 M-Waldo in the pine woods of Palma.] 



91. Azure Tit, Parus cyanus cyanus Pall. 

 Geographical Races. 



a. Western Azure Tit, P. cyanus eyanus Pall. 



Eggs: Dresser, pi. — , fig. 6. 

 Parus cyanus Pall. Dresser, Birds of Europe, III, p. 143 and Man. 

 Pal. Birds, p. 175. P. cyanus cyanus Pall. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, 

 p. 352. 



Breeding Range: Eastern Russia [Probably also W. Siberia]. 



According to Menzbier this bird is extending its range in a southern con- 

 and south-westerly direction. Lorenz records it as breeding in the Moscow *'"«n*»i 



'' " Europe. 



government in small numbers, although unknown there 40 years ago. 

 In the Ura.ls Sabanaelf describes it as a plentiful resident. Eastward 

 the exact limits of this and the Eastern form are not yet clearly defined. 



Dresser describes a nest from the S. Ural as composed of green Nest. 

 moss, intermixed with cowhair and lined with white hare's fur. 



White, sparsely spotted with dull red, chiefly at the big end. Eggs. 

 Sabanaeff took a nest with 4 eggs on May 29, 1869. 



Three eggs in Dresser's collection measure 16x12, 16.1x11.7 Measure- 

 and 16.2X11.7. ■"'""'■ 



b. Eastern Azure Tit, P. cyanus tianschanicus (Menzb.) 



Plate 20, fig. 13—16 (Amur). 



Eggs: J. f. 0. 1873, Tab. I, fig. 14. Cat. Eggs. Br. Mus. IV, pi. XIV, fig. 5. 

 P. cyanus tianschanicus (Menzb.). Hartert, VOg. Pal. Fauna, p. 353. 



Breediug Range: E. Siberia, W. to Turkestan, S. to Yarkand. Has occurred 

 in Europe in winter. Of the nesting habits of this race we have more information 

 than of the Western form. Dybowski describes it as breeding in old willows by 

 river banks, rarely in old Woodpeckers' holes, and generally at a height of 18 in. 

 to 8 ft. from the ground The nest is built of the fur of the White Hare and Squirrel, 

 together with a little grass. The Eggs are 10 — 11 iu number, with scanty pale red 



