204 



of Castile, but also in the extreme south, being numerous in the cork 

 woods near Gibraltar. Possibly however these birds may belong to a 

 different race. Northward its range extends to the fir plantations of 

 Jutland, where a few pairs breed. 

 Nost. Besides the usual situation in a hole of some decayed stump, this 



bird is known to breed in old nests of Squirrel, Crow, Magpie, and the 

 larger birds of prey, such as the Goshawk. Sachse has also recorded 

 instances in which he found eggs or young in nests resembling those of 

 the Wren and Long tailed Tit, but with twigs woven into the exterior. 

 They may of course have been old nests of these birds, appropriated by 

 the Tits. In N. Italy, H. M. Wallis found a nest in a hollow log in a 

 wood stack, piled against a tree, and in Germany Walter discovered 

 young birds in a Kingfisher's hole (-/. f. 0. 1881, p. 310). In the 

 Iberian peninsula most nests are placed in hollows in boughs of cork 

 oak or pine trees : Tait mentions one in a hole originally occupied 

 by the Spanish Green Woodpecker {Ibis, 1887, p. 184). Several 

 nests have also been recorded in the foundations of Kites' nests. 

 During the process of excavation all the chips are carefully removed 

 by the parent birds. 

 Eg(?B. Usually 5 to 7 or 8, but Bau gives 8 — 10 as the usual number of 



the first brood, and (i — 8 of the second. An instance of 12 eggs being 

 found in one nest is given in the Zeit. f. Ool. VIII, p. 27, but here the 

 eggs were undoubtedly laid by two hens. They are not distinguishable 

 from those of other races. 

 Breeding Two broods are frequently reared: the first eggs being laid in April, 



Season, generally about the second or third week in the month, and the second 

 late in May or in June. In S. Spain fresh clutches have been taken 

 on April 10, 25, and May 10. 

 MeaBure- Avcragc sizc of 90 eggs (41 by Bau, 30 by Rey and 19 by the 



'"""*'^- writer) l(i.34 X 12.28 mm.. Max. 17.8 X 12.9, Min. 15.3 X 12 and 

 15.9x11.8. A very small egg which I took in Brabant measures only 

 14.3 X 11.3. Average weight 82 mg. (Bau & Bey). 



94. Lapp Tit, Parus cinctus Bodd. 



Plate 23, fig. 24 — 27 (Kiistala, Lapland). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl. Tab. XVIII, fig. 8 (bad). Baedeker, 

 Tab. 76, fig. 17. Newton, Ootheca Wolleyana, Tab. XI, fig. 1 — H. 

 Dresser, pi. — , fig. 43 — 46. 



Foreign Names: Finland: Pistutiainen. Lapland: Kada yija. 

 Norway : Laplands meise. Sweden : Lappmes. 



