PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 175 



to tin- beginning of June : only occasionally during the rest of the period, except 



in SrpUMnlxT iiiul ii 1\ < > tober, mkiU m MOM JFWII it Binn* tiv.|i| ( -utl\ (('. .1. 

 H. G. Alexander, Br. Birds, iv. p. 274). [E. L. T.J 



CONTINENTAL GREAT-TIT [Pants major major Linnm* 

 French, mesangt charbonnierr ; German, Kohlmcise ; Italian, cinciaUegra]. 



I. Description. This is regarded by some authorities as a separate sub- 

 species. It differs from the British form in the greater size of the beak, a 

 difference which can only be appreciated by comparing a large series of specimens. 

 Whether this is enough to entitle it to sub-specific rank may well be a matter 

 of doubt, [w. p. p.] 



a. Distribution. Throughout the Continent of Europe, from the Arctic 

 Circle to the Mediterranean, and also in Western Siberia to the Altai, but the 

 Greek form has recently been separated, and local races also occur in Corsica 

 and Cyprus as well as in North-west Africa, Persia, and Eastern Asia to 

 Japan. [F. c. u. j.J 



3. Migration. There is in autumn a considerable immigration of this 

 race from Northern Europe to the eastern seaboard of Great Britain. In some 

 seasons very marked influxes have been noted. One such, in 1878, was paralleled 

 by a similar great passage over Heligoland. In spring there is a corresponding 

 return journey (cf. Saunders, Man. Brit. B., 2nd ed., 1899, p. 109 ; Nelson, B. of 

 Tories., 1907, p. 108 ; and Gatke, Vogelwarle Helgoland, Eng. trans., 1895, p. 413). 

 There is no evidence of cross-Channel migrations, and in parts of the South of 

 England the species is described as a " true resident " (cf. Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 

 1909, p. 77). The western part* of Great Britain, also, do not appear to be 

 reached by the Continental birds as a rule, for no real migration is known to 

 occur there (cf. Forrest, Fauna N. Wales, 1907, p. 103 ; and Gladstone, B. of 

 Dumfriesshire, 1910, p. 38). Nor is there any evidence of transmarine migra- 

 tion to or from Ireland, apart from a few October records from the Wexford 

 lights (cf. Ussher and Warren, B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 30). A gregarious migrant. 

 [A, L. T.] 



5. Food. Probably does not differ in its feeding habits from the British 

 form. [K. L. T.] 



