36 COEVID.E. 



brownish-red, as the case may be. The markings are much denser 

 towards the large end, where in some eggs they form an imperfect 

 and irregular cap. In size they vary from O68 to 0-76 in length, 

 and from O49 to 0-54 in breadth ; but the average of thirty-two 

 eggs is O72 by 0-52 nearly. 



35. JEgithaliscus erytarocephalus (Vig.). The Red-headed Tit. 



^Egithaliscus erythrocephalus ( Vig.\ Jerd. B. Ind, ii, p. 270 ; Hume, 

 Rough Draft N. # E. no. 634. 



The Red-headed Tit breeds throughout the Himalayas from 

 Murree to Bhootan, at elevations of from 6000 to 9000 or perhaps 

 10,000 feet. 



They commence breeding very early. 1 have known nests to be 

 taken quite at the beginning of March, and they continue laying 

 till the end of May. 



The nest is, I think, most commonly placed in low stunted hill - 

 oak bushes, either suspended between several twigs, to all of which 

 it is more or less attached, or wedged into a fork. / have found 

 the nest in a deodar tree, laid on a horizontal bough. I have seen 

 them in tufts of grass, in banks and other unusual situations ; but 

 the great bulk build in low bushes, and of these the hill-oak is, I 

 think, their favourite. 



The nests closely resemble those of the Long-tailed Tit (Acredula 

 rosea). They are large ovoidal masses of moss, lichen, and moss- 

 roots, often tacked together a good deal outside with cotton-wool, 

 down of different descriptions, and cobwebs. They average about 

 4| inches in height or length, and about 3| inches in diameter. 

 The aperture is on one side near the top. The egg-cavity, which 

 may average about 2| inches in diameter and about the same in 

 depth below the lower edge of the aperture, is densely lined with 

 very soft down or feathers. 



They lay from six to eight eggs, but I once found only four eggs 

 in a nest, and these fully incubated. 



From Murree, Colonel C. H. T. Marshall notes that this species 

 " builds a globular nest of moss and hair and feathers in thorny 

 bushes. The eggs we found were pinkish white, with a ring of obso- 

 lete brown spots at the larger end. Size 0'55 by 0'43. Lays in 

 May." 



Captain Hutton tells us that the Red-cap Tit is " common at 

 Mussoorie and in the hills generally, throughout the year. It breeds 

 in April and May. The situation chosen is various, as one taken 

 in the former month at Mussoorie, at 7000 feet elevation, was 

 placed on the side of a bank among overhanging coarse grass, while 

 another taken in the latter month, at 5000 feet, was built among 

 some ivy twining round a tree, and at least 14 feet from the 

 ground. The nest is in shape a round ball with a small lateral 

 entrance, and is composed of green mosses warmly lined with 

 feathers. The eggs are five in number, white with a pinkish 



