124 AVES INSESSORES. [PARUS. 



throat and fore part of the neck black : upper parts of the body cine- 

 reous, inclining to yellowish on the rump : greater and lesser coverts 

 tipped with white, forming two transverse bars across the wings when 

 closed: belly and abdomen grayish white: tail relatively shorter than 

 in the last species, and slightly forked. The female has less white on 

 the sides of the neck, and less black on the throat. (Egg.) White, 

 with numerous pale red spots: long. diam. seven lines and a half; 

 trans, diam. six lines. 



Not so abundant as the last species. Confined to woods and exten- 

 sive plantations. Feeds principally on insects. Builds in holes. Nest 

 constructed of moss and wool, and lined with hair. 



(2. MECISTURA, Leach.) 



78. P. caudatus, Linn. (Long-tailed Titmouse.) 

 Forehead, crown, cheeks, and throat, white : a broad 

 streak across the eye, nape, and back, black ; scapulars 

 reddish. 



P. caudatus, Temm. Man. d'Orn. torn. i. p. 296. Long-tailed Tit- 

 mouse, Mont. Om. Diet. Selb. Illust. vol. i. p. 241. pi. 51. f. 5. 

 Bew. Brit. Birds, vol. i. p. 279. 



DIMENS. Entire length five inches nine lines : length of the bill (from 

 the forehead) two lines and a half, (from the gape) three lines and a half ; 

 of the tarsus eight lines ; of the tail three inches six lines ; from the 

 carpus to the end of the wing two inches four lines : breadth, wings 

 extended, six inches eight lines. 



DESCRIPT. Forehead, crown, cheeks and throat, pure white ; over each 

 eye a broad black streak, which extends backward to the nape, where it 

 unites with its fellow to form a broader band of the same colour down the 

 middle of the back : sides of the back, and scapulars, rose-red : quills 

 black ; greater coverts dusky ash ; these last, as well as the secondary 

 quills, edged with white : belly, sides, and abdomen, whitish, tinged with 

 red : tail cuneated, and very long ; the six middle feathers black ; the 

 others tipped, and obliquely edged on their outer webs, with white: 

 bill black, very short: irides brown: feet dusky. Obs. According to 

 Temminck, it is only the female which possesses the black streak over 

 the eyes, but as far as my observation goes it is common to both sexes, 

 nor did I ever see a specimen in which it was wanting. Young birds 

 have the white parts more or less mottled with brown and dusky ; and 

 the black on the back not so deep and well-defined. (Egg.) White, 

 with a few pale red specks; frequently quite plain: long. diam. seven 

 lines; trans, diam. five lines. 



Far from uncommon in woods and shrubberies, in most parts of the 

 kingdom. Feeds entirely on insects. Nest placed generally in thick 

 bushes ; of a very elegant form ; long and oval, covered at top, with a 

 small aperture at the side ; constructed principally of moss and wool, 

 studded externally with lichens, and lined with a profusion of soft fea- 

 thers. Eggs ten to twelve in number. The young, when Hedged, follow 

 the parent birds till the ensuing spring. 



