THE TITMICE. 309 



as the snow commences melting, it retires to more southern 

 districts." 



The Grd-Mes (P. borealis, Selys) was occasionally found 

 in my neighbourhood, as also in other parts of Sweden. But 

 being a recent addition to the Swedish fauna, northern natu- 

 ralists seem to know but little of its habits. It has not 

 been noticed in Denmark. 



The Cole Titmouse (Svart-Mes, Sw. ; P. ater, Linn.) was 

 pretty common in my neighbourhood at all seasons of the 

 year. It is also common throughout Scandinavia generally, 

 though in a less degree, I believe, in the extreme south of 

 Sweden, than in the more midland and northern parts of it. 

 In the summer, at least, this bird confines itself principally 

 to Barr-skogar. 



The Long-tailed Titmouse (Stjert-Mes, Sw. ; P. caudatus, 

 Linn.). This bird was not very plentiful in my neighbour- 

 hood ; nor is it abundant in any part of Scandinavia, less so 

 perhaps in Scania than in the midland and more northern 

 portion of the peninsula. In the summer time, thick and 

 bushy woods are its favourite resorts. 



The Siberisk Mes, or Siberian Titmouse (P. Sibiricus, 

 Gmel.) was extremely rare in my vicinity. An individual 

 was shot in 1843, by M. von Wright, in the province of 

 Bohus ; and several others were seen during the following 

 year by M. Ekstrom, in the adjoining Skargard. Though 

 occasionally met with in the more central parts of the 

 Scandinavian peninsula, the proper home of this bird would 

 seem to be the far north. In Lapland it is by all accounts 

 plentiful. The greater portion appear to be pretty stationary 

 the whole year round. M. von Wright tells us, indeed, that 



