240 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Adult female. — Like male. Feathers of crest slightly shorter 

 on average, but measurements overlap, and sexes cannot be 

 distinguished by this character. (Longest feather from base to 

 tijo 15-19 mm.) 



Nestling. — (Not examined.) 



Juvenile. — Closely resembling adult but feathers of crown 

 brown-black and tips duller white, feathers of crest shorter and not 

 so pointed ; black of chin and throat brownish and some feathers 

 tipped white, black of base of throat not extending on to sides of 

 neck, and no encircling black line at base of sides of neck. 



First ivinter and summer. Male and female. — Like adults. 

 The juvenile body -feathers, greater, median, lesser wing-coverts, 

 and innermost secondaries are moulted Aug. -Sept., but not primary- 

 coverts, rest of wing-feathers or tail. 



Measurements and structure.— (^ wing 62-67 mm., tail 49-54, 

 tarsus 17.5-19, bill from skull 9-11 (12 measured). $ wing 59-65. 

 Primaries : 1st 9-14 mm. longer than primary-coverts, 2nd equal 

 to (or between) 8th or 9th, 4th and 5th longest, 3rd 2-3 shorter, 

 6th 1 shorter, 7th 3-5 shorter ; 3rd to 6th clearly, and 7th less 

 clearly, emarginated outer webs. Secondaries equal 10th primary, 

 tips round with somewhat pointed apex. Tail slightly forked, each 

 feather being sloped off at tip of inner web. Bill fairly strong. 

 Good many rictal and nasal bristles, short bristle-like feathers 

 covering nostrils. Tarsal joint feathered. 



Soft parts. — Bill black ; legs and feet olive-grey ; iris red- 

 brown. 



Breeding-habits. — Similar to those of British form. Occasionally 

 nests in old squirrels' dreys. Eggs also similar. 



Food. — Chiefly insects, their eggs and larvae ; only to small extent 

 seeds. 



Distribution. — England. — One, Whitby (Yorks.), March, 1872 

 {ut supra). 



[Other examples (not examined) of Crested Tits, recorded as 

 obtained, are : Thirsk (Yorks.), near Christchurch (Hants.), 1846, 

 Grange, Melton (Suffolk), about 1873, Suffolk, about 1840. Others 

 are recorded as seen.] 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Scandinavia, north Russia, Poland, and 

 east Germany. Replaced in west Germany, central and west 

 Europe by Parus cristatus mitratus. 



100. Parus cristatus mitratus Brehm — CENTRAL EURO- 

 PEAN CRESTED TITMOUSE. 



Paetjs mitratus Brehm, Handb. Naturg. Vog. DeutschJ., p. 467 (1831 — 



Germany). 



Partis cristatus mitratus Brelun, Witherby, Brit, B., v, p. 110. 



