96 



The race is nearest to true &. c. condnnus of China but is dis- 

 tinguished from that bird by the more chestnut flanks and sides. 



Colour of soft parts as in iredalei. 



Measurements. A rather bigger bird than the Common Bed- 

 headed Tit. Total length about 115 mm.; wing 53 mm.; tail 

 53 mm.; tarsus about 14 mm. 



Distribution. Mt. Talifu, W. Yunnan, S.W. China and K Shan 

 States as far west as the Irrawaddy. 



Nidification. Harington, who took this Tit's nest in the Shau 

 States, describes it as like that of the Long-tailed Tit a ball of 

 moss lined with feathers and with an inner lining of seed-down, 

 placed in a raspberry bush within two feet of the ground. The 

 full clutch of eggs seems to be three only and they measure 

 about 13-5 x 10-9 mm. 



Harington took the above nest in the end of April but Mr. F. 

 Grant found it breeding in March and early April. 



Habits. This Tit seems to be obtained principally between 5,000 

 and 7,000 feet. Little has been so far recorded of its habits, 

 which doubtless do not differ from those of others of the genus. 



-ffigithaliscus bonvaloti. 



Key to Subspecies. 



A. Below white with ferruginous pectoral band. 



Wing 56-61 mm AL. b.bonvahti, p. 96. 



B. Below rutescent with brownish band. Wing 



50-55 mm &. b. sharpei, p. 97. 



(81) JEgithaliscus bonvaloti bonvaloti. 

 THE CHINESE BLACK-HEADED TIT. 



JSgithaliscus bonvaloti Oustalet, Ann. Sci. Nat. Zool., (7) Vol. 12, 

 p. 286 (1891) (Ta-tsien-lu). 



Vernacular names. None recorded. 



Description. Head black, a coronal streak white on the fore- 

 head and becoming chestnut-buff posteriorly; upper back dull 

 chestnut, fading into dull olive on back and rump ; feathers of the 

 latter tipped with dull chestnut; chin and upper throat black, 

 somewhat mottled in the centre with white edges to the feathers ; 

 below white ; a broken pectoral band, flanks, vent and under tail- 

 coverts sandy chestnut ; tail blackish brown, the outermost three 

 pairs of rectrices with terminal broad streaks of white; wings 

 brown, quills pale-edged and coverts tipped with olive. 



Colours of soft parts. Not recorded. 



Measurements. Total length about 110mm.; wing 56 to 61 mm.; 

 tail 51 to 60 mm. 



