225 



In nesting habits it closely resembles the preceding species, building Nest. 

 a similar but perhaps slightly smaller and more compact nest of green 

 moss, woven together with hair and spiders' webs and lined with feathers. 

 Like that of the Goldcrest, it is generally suspended beneath the tip of 

 a branch of a fir, well sheltered and hidden by the branching twigs at 

 varying heights. Occasionally a nest is found in a juniper bush, only 

 a few feet from the ground, and it is usual to find the same trees 

 occupied year after year. Diameter of cup. 11 in., depth It in. 



Usually 7 to 9, occasionally 10, while instances of 11 and even 12 Egg'- 

 are said to have occurred. Typical eggs are easily distinguishable from 

 those of the Goldcrest by their warm pinkish tinge, which is very 

 noticeable after they have been blown. C. Sachse took one clutch with 

 a white ground and small red spots like a small Wren's egg, but more 

 glossy. As a rule however there is not much variation. 



In Germany the eggs of the first brood are laid early in May Breeding 

 (according to Sachse about 8 days later than those of the Goldcrest), seaion. 

 while second broods may be found at the beginning of July. In the 

 Pyrenees the eggs are laid about the end of April and the young are 

 on the wing in the fourth week of May, Avhile in Andalucia they are 

 still earlier, and Irby records young flying on May 15. 



Average of 100 eggs (71 by Rey and 29 by the writer), Measure- 

 13.57 X 10.28 mm., Max. 14.3 X 10.5 and 13.8 X 11, Min. 12.5 X 10.3 ""«""• 

 and 13.5X10. Bau records an egg 12.9x8.9 mm. Average weight 

 38.5 mg. (Rey); 37 mg. (Bau). 



[In Madeira another form, R. ignicapillus madeirensis Vern. Hare. 

 is found in the mountains. Its eggs are figured by Konig, J. f. 0., 1890, 

 Tab. VII, fig. 8; Cat. Eggs Br. Mus, IV. pi. XIV, fig. 9, 12; Dresser, 

 pi. — , fig. 6, 7. Its chief haunts are the hillsides covered with giant 

 Heaths and Arbutus. The eggs are 4 — 6, generally 5, in number, marked 

 with reddish spots, chiefly at the big end on a whitish ground. Average of 

 18 eggs (16 measured by the writer and 2 by Kutter), 1-4.32x11.1 mm., 

 Max. 15.4 X 11.2 and 14.6 X 11.5, Min. 13.3 X 10.4 mm. Weight of 

 2 eggs: 55 and 50 mg. (Kutter). The breeding season apparently falls 

 in June, and the remarkable nest is not unlike that of Fr. coelebs.^ 



102. Bearded Tit, Panurus biarmicus (L.). 

 Geographical Races. 



a. Western Bearded Tit, P. biarmieas biarmicus (L). 



Plate 21, fig. 13—16 (Norfolk Broads). 



Eggs: Thienemann, Fortpfl. Tab. XVIII, fig. 12, a, b. Hewitson, 

 I. Ed. I., pi. LXXXI, fig. 4; II. Ed. I., pi. XXXII. fig. 3; III. Ed. I., 



15 



