THE COAL TITMOUSE. 



PAR US ATER. 



So many and so varied are the incidents of Bird life, 

 that, even in such closely-allied species as those of 

 the genus Pariis, we may detect differences of habit 

 as noteworthy as are the variations to be observed 

 in structure and coloration. 



The external characters by which the present 

 species may be distinguished from its near ally, the 

 Marsh Titmouse, have been already briefly referred 

 to. In addition to the white spot on the nape, 



which is not possessed by the Marsh Tit, there is 





 in the Coal Tit a narrow white bar across the 



wing, which is absent in the other species. 



Messrs. Sharpe and Dresser have expressed the 

 opinion that the Coal Tit of Great Britain is distinct 

 from the Parus ater of Continental Europe, and 

 have proposed to name our familiar little bird Farm 



