Season. 



211 



Since the publication of Dr. Hartert's article in the Zool. 1898, p. 116, 

 specimens have been recorded from Middlesex, Sussex, Bucks, Northants, 

 Gloucester, and Kent, while the specimens obtained by Mr. W. Evans in the 

 Spey, Tweed, and Forth basins also belong to this form. If, as seems pro- 

 bable, the long drawn 'chay, chay, chay' is characteristic of this species, 

 it will probably prove to be generally distributed and locally common. 



The few nests which have been identified as belonging to this bird Nest. 

 appear to be placed in holes bored by the birds themselves, or at any 

 rate considerably enlarged by them. They have been found in the decayed 

 wood of old alders, willows, etc, at varying heights from the ground, 

 extending from 6 in. to 1 ft. in depth. The nest itself is a very scanty 

 affair, consisting chiefly of moss. Mr. A. Dixon noticed that the chips 

 were left lying untidily below the nest hole, and not removed as is 

 usually done by the Marsh Tit (Field, May 21, 1904). 



7 to 9 in number. At present I have not been able to examine Eggs. 

 enough eggs to enable me to judge whether they differ consistently from 

 those of the Marsh Tit. Eggs from Kent and Sussex have bold, rich 

 markings, tending to form a zone at the large end. 



Full clutches about May 10 in the S. of England, but in Strathspey Breeding 

 from May 10 to 16. 



Average size of 17 English eggs, 15.27x12.4 mm.. Max. 16.1x13.1, Mea 

 Min. 14.4 X 11.6. °'«°*=- 



b. Mid-German Willow Tit, P. atrieapillus salicarius Brehm. 



P. salicarius Brehm. Dresser, I. c. (part.). F. atrieapillus salicarius Brehm. 

 Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 376. 



Breeding Range: Mid Germany and Austria. 



This form is now known to exist in many parts of Germany, but 

 not in large numbers, and appears to prefer coniferous woods, especially 

 pine forests, not only in the plains but also in mountainous districts. 

 In some districts it has been met with as high as 3000 ft. 



The nest is usually made in some rotten stump, and is excavated 

 by the birds themselves. 



c. Rhenish Willow Tit, P. atrieapillus rhenanns Kleinschm. 



Diagrams of nest, egg, etc: Kleinschmidt, J. f. O., 1903, Taf. V. 

 (no letterpress). 

 P. atrieapillus rhenanus Kleins. Hartert, Vog. Pal. Fauna, p. 377. 



Breeding Range: The Rhine Valley: probably also France and 

 the Low Countries. 



This race has been met Avith from Worms and Mainz down the 

 Rhine to Wesel, and also in Holland, where it is by no means scarce 

 (Orn. Jahrb. 1906, p. 204). Its westward range is still unknown. 



14* 



easure- 



