THE CONTINENTAL GREAT TITMOUSE. 225 



Genus PARUS L. 



Parus Linnaeus, Syst. Xat., ed. x, i, p. 189 (1758 — Type by subsequent 

 designation : P. major). 



Comprising all our Titmice, with the exception of the Long- 

 tailed and Bearded Tits. Bill variable as to shape and size, but more 

 or less strong. Nostrils non-operculate, completely concealed by 

 dense, antrorse plumules. Tongue, obtuse, its tip with strong 

 bristles. Wing rounded, 1st primary much less than half as long 

 as 2nd, considerably longer than primary-coverts, 2nd shorter than 

 3rd and 7th, equal to 9th or 8th. Tail rounded or slightly emarginate, 

 never much gi-aduated. Tarsus strong, front scutellate. Sexes 

 not conspicuously different. The latest review of the genus by 

 Hellmayr (1911) recognizes forty-seven species in one hundred and 

 sixty-nine subspecies. Nests in holes, eggs spotted. Habitat : 

 Palsearctic, Nearctic, Indo -Malayan, and Ethiopian regions. 



Key to species of genus Parus. 



I f Back greenish 2 



\ Back brown, brownish, grey or greyish . . 3 



, Larger, wing 70 mm. or more, continuous dark 

 area (black in adult, grey -brown in young) from 



2- bill to chest P. major, p. 225 



Smaller, wing under 70 mm., only slaty or grey 



bar across lower throat P. cceruleiis, p. 230 



„ fHead distinctly crested P. cristatus , -p . 238 



\ Head not crested 4 



.flipper wing-coverts with whitish bars or spots . P. ater, p. 233 



\ Upper wing-coverts uniform .... 5 



I Adult with tips of feathers of crown distinctly glossy P. palustris, p. 241 

 5 \ Adult with tips of feathers of crown without any 



[ gloss P . atricapillus ,p .243 



PARUS MAJOR 



91. Parus major major L.— THE CONTINENTAL GREAT 



TITMOUSE. 



Pabus major Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 189 (1758 — " Habitat in 

 Europa." Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 



Description. — In coloration like British Great Titmouse : mantle 

 sometimes paler and " cleaner " looking but no constant difference. 

 Bill shorter and decidedly more slender, being narrower (more 

 compressed) and less deep, and this is more apparent by comparison 

 than by measurement. N.B. — An individual variation with pale 

 cream-colour instead of bright yellow under-parts is not iiifrequent, 

 especially in more southern portions of range of P. major. 



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