130 ALLEM'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



P. major and P. cceruhus, but also the Coal-Tits, of which 

 P. afer is the type, and the Marsh-Tits, of which P. palustris 

 is the typical representative. The range of the genus Parus is, 

 therefore, coincident with that of the family. They are all 

 builders in holes of one kind or another, and their eggs are all 

 of a similar type, and, in most cases, numerous. 



THE GREAT TIT. PARUS MAJOR. 



Parus major, Linn., S. N., i., p. 341 (1766) ; Dresser, B. Eur., 

 iii., p. 79, pi. 106 (1871); Newt. ed. Yarr., i., p. 479 (1873); 

 B.O. U. List Br. B., p. 26 (1883); Gadow., Cat. B. Brit, 

 viii., p. 19 (1883); Seeb., Br. B., i., p. 463 (1883); Lil- 

 ford, Col. Fig. Brit. B., pt. vi. (1888) ; Saunders, Man., 

 p. 95 (1889) : Wyatt, Brit. B , pi. 8, fig. 2 (1894). 



Parus fringillago, Macg., Br. B., ii., p. 425 (1839). 



Adult Male. General colour above green, inclining to yellow 

 towards the nape, where there is a patch of white ; rump and 

 upper tail-coverts greyish-blue, like the tail-feathers, which have 

 the shafts and the inner webs black, the outer tail-feathers white 

 along the outer webs and at the tips ; wing-coverts bluish slate- 

 colour, the greater series darker, and tipped with yellowish- 

 white ; primary-coverts and quills dusky, externally edged with 

 slaty-blue, the inner secondaries with greenish ; crown of head, 

 sides of neck, throat and fore-neck black with a gloss of blue, 

 and relieved by a large white patch, which occupies the cheeks 

 and ear-coverts, and is very conspicuous ; rest of under surface 

 of body yellow, the centre of the breast and abdomen glossy 

 blue-black ; flanks greenish ; vent white ; thighs and under tail- 

 coverts black; under wing-coverts white; axillaries yellow ; bill 

 black; feet leaden-grey; iris dark brown. Total length, 5-5 

 inches; oilmen, 0-5; wing, 2-85; tail, 2*4; tarsus, 075. 



Adult Female. Similar to the male, but distinguished by 

 the narrower and duller black streak down the centre of 

 the abdomen. Total length, 5-3 inches; wing, 2*85; tarsus, 

 0-8. 



Young. Coloured like the adults, but much more dingy in 

 appearance, with the patch on the hind-neck and sides of face 

 yellow instead of white, and the central streak on the under- 



