326 ,TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



others. The head of the marsh tit is glossy silk black ; 

 cheeks and sides of the neck dirty white ; back blackish 

 grey-brown; the edge of the outer web of the wing 

 feathers is a little paler than the colour of the back. 

 Is common in the south and middle of Sweden throughout 

 the year, but it is hard^to define its northern limit, as it is 

 still in dispute whether the P. borealis, De Selys, the north- 

 ern form of this tit, is only a local form or a distinct variety. 

 Both Nilsson and Wright give the P. borealis a place in their 

 fauna as a distinct species ; and without offering an opinion 

 either way, I shall follow their example. According to 

 Wright the P. palustris is not met with in Finland. 



117. P. BOREALIS, De Selys. Gra Mes. F. 



Size and colouring exactly like the last, except that 

 the colours are always purer, and this I have remarked 

 in all the specimens I have killed both in Wermland and 

 Lapland. The head is dull velvet black; cheeks and sides 

 of the neck clear white ; back grey ; the edge of the 

 outer web of the wing feathers clear white. In P. borealis 

 the tail appears a little longer than in palustris. Lillje- 

 borg says that he can easily distinguish the one bird 

 from the other when in company, by the stronger note of 

 the borealis. 



I met with it up at Quickiock, Lapland, but rare (I never, 

 however, saw palustris. there), and it is the common form 

 with us in South Wermland. 



The nest of the British marsh tit is always described as 

 being built of moss, feathers, etc., now the nest of borealis 

 is always altogether built of the finest shreds of the under 

 bark of some dead tree I fancy the alder ; I never saw a 

 bit of moss or a feather in one. Lays the largest number of 

 eggs of any northern tit, often eight, exactly resembling 

 those of the marsh tit. Figured by Dr. Bree from Lapland 

 specimens, furnished by myself, as the " northern tit" 



118. P. CJSRULEUS, L. Bla Mes. The Blue Tit. D. F. 



Smaller than the last ; crown of the head bright blue ; 

 forehead white ; body above olive green, under yellow. 



