207 



lu Greece this form is found in most districts, especially near the con- 

 coast, thonffh not very numerous anywhere. For details see Reiser, H"^"^"^ 



' "^ "^ • ' Europe. 



Orn. Bale. Ill, p. 176 — 178. It has also been recorded from Zante and 

 Cerigo. How far its range extends into Turkey is not known, but pro- 

 bably it is found throughout Macedonia. 



Usually placed low down in a hole of a tree, such as the olive or Nest. 

 ash. Details of the construction of the nest are still lacking. 



Apparently 5 to 8 in number, but Kriiper remarks that they are Eggs, 

 fewer than is usual with the Faridae. They are white, sometimes al- 

 most unmarked, but usually rather sparsely marked with fine reddish spots. 



Two broods appear to be generally reared, and according to Kriiper Breeding 

 the first eggs are laid at the end of March or the beginning of April. ^^^^°"- 

 Lindermeyer however states thut the young are hatched in March, and 

 fresh eggs have been found as late as early June. 



Average of 22 eggs (11 by Reiser, 4 by Rey and 7 by the writer), Measure- 

 17.63 X 13.55 mm.. Max. 19 X 14 and 17.7 X 14.4, Min. 16.6 X 12.5. "'""''• 

 Average weight of 11 eggs, 101 mg. (Reiser); of 4 eggs, 80 mg. (Rey). 



[In Asia Minor a third race, P. I. anatoliae Hart, is found. Egg 

 figured by Dresser, pi. — fig. 44. Average size of 6 eggs, 17.05 X 

 13.5 mm. P. I. hyrcanns Sar. & Loud, ranges to the S. shores of the 

 Caspian and the Elburz range.] 



96. Marsh Tit, Parus palustris L. 

 Geographical Races. 



a. British Marsh Tit, P. palustris dresseri Stejn. 



Eggs: Hewitson, I Ed. I, pi. LXXVI, fig. 2; II Ed. I. pi. XXXII, 

 fig. 1; III Ed. I, pi XL, fig. 1. Seebohm, Br. Birds, pi. 9; id. Col. Fig. 

 pi. 53. Frohawk, Br. Birds, I. pi. Ill, fig. 76. 77. 



Local Names: Willoiv Biter, Blackcap, etc. (generic). AVelsh : 

 Yswidw JJwyd fach. 



Parus palustris L. Newton, ed Yarrell, I. p. 495. Dresser, Birds of 

 Europe, III, p. 99 and Man. Pal. Birds p. 167 (part.). Saunders, 

 Man. p. 107. P. palustris dresseri Stejn. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, 

 p. 373. 



Breeding Range: Great Britain, except in N. Scotland. 



The study of the Britsh Marsh and Willow Tits is attended with British 

 especial difficulty owing to the close resemblance between them. (For ^''*'' 

 the distinctions between the two species see Brit. Birds 1907, p. 44.) 

 The glossy-black headed Marsh Tit is apparently rather locally distri- 

 buted throughout England and Wales, but in some districts, such as the 



