236 BIRDS. 



whitish ; wings and tail brown, the feathers edged with reddish. 

 5| inches long. Inhabits Arabia. Tern. PL Col. 244, fig. 2. 



Gen. 2. PARUS, Lin. 



Bill short, straight, strong, conical, compressed, terminating in 

 a point, base with small hairs ; nostrils basal, rounded, con- 

 cealed by projecting feathers ; legs stout ; toes divided to their 

 origin, nail of the hind one strongest and most bent ; wing- 

 feathers, the first of medium length or almost deficient, the 

 fourth and fifth the longest. 



These are very small, but very lively and active birds, being constantly in mo- 

 tion, and possessing a great degree of strength and courage for their size. Their 

 principal food consists of insects, though they likewise sometimes attack sickly bird?. 

 Temminck divides the genus into two sections, the first of which inhabits woods 

 and bushes, nestling in the hollows of trees; the second nestles among reeds, rushes, 

 and bushes near water. Their nests are constructed with peculiar ingenuity. 



* First quill-feather of medium length. 



P. major, Lin. The Great Titmouse or Ox-eye. Plumage olive- 

 green above, yellowish beneath ; head black ; temples white; top 

 of the neck yellowish; wing-coverts grayish-blue tipped with white; 

 tail greenish-gray, edged with grayish-blue. 5 \ inches long. In- 

 habits Europe. B Selby, Illust. pi. 51, fig. 1. 



P. ater, Lin. The Cole Titmouse. Top of the head and fore part 

 of the neck black ; a broad white band on the lateral part of the 

 neck and a white spot on the occiput ; upper parts ash-coloured, 

 and two white transverse bands on the wings ; belly white ; tail 

 slightly forked. 4 inches long. Inhabits Europe. B. Selby, 

 Illust. pi. 51, fig. 3. 



P. cceruleus, Lin. Blue Titmouse. Top of the head blue ; fore- 

 head, band above the eyes, and cheeks white ; streak before and 

 behind the eyes black ; nape of the neck and collar azure-blue ; 

 back grayish-blue ; wings and tail bluish, the greater coverts tip- 

 ped with white ; breast and sides sulphur yellow. 4J inches long 

 Inhabits Europe. K.Selby, Illust. pi. 51, fig. 2. 



P. cristatus, Lin. Crested Titmouse, Plumage reddish-gray above, 

 white beneath ; collar black ; head furnished with a black crest, 

 bordered with whitish. 4| inches long. Inhabits Europe. Selby, 

 Illust. pi. 43, fig. 6. 



P. palustris, Lin. Marsh Titmouse. Head black ; back ash-co- 

 lour ; temples white ; the black on the head extending downwards 

 on the nape ; wings brown, bordered with ash-colour ; under parts 

 white, shaded with gray. 4J inches long. Inhabits Europe. B. 

 Selby, Illust. pi. 51. fig. 4. 



P. lugubris, Natt. Top of the head black, terminating at the occi- 

 put ; throat, a part before and the sides of the neck black ; back 

 and scapulars brown ash-coloured ; temples and inferior parts 

 white, shaded with gray-brown. 6 inches long. Inhabits South- 

 ern Europe Tern. Man. 293. 



