Mr. R. B. Sharpe on the Genus Acredula. 299 



however, agree with Dr. Giinther when he remarks (Ibis, 1865, 

 p. 97) that the usually adopted genus of Mecistura, Leach, should 

 give way to that of Acredula, Koch. "Eor these last two 

 generic names were published in 1816; but whilst the former is 

 used only in a list of indigenous birds in the British Museum, 

 without any characters, that of the last-mentioned author is 

 accompanied by a very elaborate diagnosis (see Koch, ' System 

 derbaier. Zool.^ p. 199)." 



Having therefore endeavoured to show that Acredula is the 

 genus that should properly be employed for the true Bottle- 

 Titmice, of which the continental bird is the type, we will pro- 

 ceed to consider the species included in it. These are six in 

 number, and seem to divide themselves naturally into two sec- 

 tions, distinguished by the presence or absence of a gular spot, 

 as the following synoptical table, in which I have endeavoured 

 to point out the distinguishing specific characters, will show : — 



A. Macula gulari nulla. 



a. Dorso medio nigro. 



a'. Pileo toto niveo \. A. caudata. 



h'. Pileo medio albo, vitta utrinque nigra, 



genis cinerascentibus 2. A. rosea. 



c'. Similis A. rosece, sed omnino minor et 



coloiibus dilutioribus 3. A. trivirgata. 



b. Dorso medio concolori 4. A. swinhoii. 



B. Macula gulari nigricante, dorso concolori. 



a. Major, pileo nigi'o, vitta mediana cinereo- 



albida, fronte cinerea 5. A. tephro7iota. 



b. Minor, pileo nigro, macula nucbali vinaceo- , 



grisea, fi'onte rubescente 6.-4. fflaucoffttlaris. 



The above are at present the only known species belonging 

 to this truly Palsearctic genus. It is, however, possible that 

 more species are yet to be discovered in the almost unexplored 

 regions of Central and South- Western Asia ; and I would draw 

 attention to the remarkable fact that between Asia IMinor, 

 where we have A. tephronota, no species of the genus is known 

 until we get to China, the habitat of A. glaucogularis. It 

 should be mentioned, however, that in the Himalayas arc found 

 the closely allied genera yEffithaliscus, Acanthiparus, and so on, 

 which, however, Mr. Biyth informs me are not true Bottle-Tit- 



