LOPHOlMI.VNKs. 57 



Genus LOPHOPHANES, Kaup, 1829. 



Similar to Parus, but crested and with the tail square or slightly 

 forked ; no ventral band. From Machlolophus the present genus 

 is distinguished by the square or slightly forked tail and by the 

 absence of a ventral band. 



Key to the Species. 



a. With a double row of spots on the wing- 



coverts. 



a'. Abdomen iron-grey L. melanolophiis , p. 57. 



b'. Abdomen ferruginous L. cemodius, p. 58. 



b. With no spots on the wing-coverts. 

 c'. Chin and throat black or blackish. 



a". Breast and abdomen ferruginous. ... L. rubidiventris, p. 58. 



b". Breast black, abdomen ashy olive . . L. rufinuchalis, p. 58. 

 c". Upper breast only black, lower breast 



and abdomen ashy olive L. beavani, p. 59. 



d '. Chin and throat fulvous-grey L. dichrous, p. 59. 



44. Lophophanes melanolophus. The Crested Black Tit. 



Parus melanolophus, Viyors, P. Z. S. 1831, p. 23 ; Gould, Cent. pi. 30, 

 fig. 2 ; Blyth, Cat. p. 104 ; Horsf. $ M. Cat. p. 372 ; Biddidph, Ibis, 

 1881, p. 72 ; Scully, Ibis, 1881, p. 568 ; Gadow, Cat. B. M. viii, 

 p. 28. 



Lophophanes melanolophus ( Vig.}, Jerd. B. L ii, p. 273 ; Hume, N. 

 | E. p. 403; Brooks, S. F. iii, p. 253 ; Hume, Cat. no. 638 ; Wardlaw 

 Ramsay, Ibis, 1880, p. 61 ; Oates in Hume's N. fy E. 2nd ed. i, 

 p. 40. 



Coloration. Forehead, crown, crest, hind neck, lores, chin, throat, 

 and breast deep black ; a large patch on the nape white ; the ear- 

 coverts, extending down the sides of the neck, the cheeks, and 

 under the eye white ; upper plumage iron-grey, the exposed parts 

 of the wings and tail paler ; the middle and lower series of the 

 wing-coverts, the tertiaries, and some of the secondaries tipped 

 with white, the tips of the coverts more or less tinged with rufous ; 

 lower plumage from the breast downwards iron-grey, the under 

 wing-coverts, axillaries, and a portion of the sides of the body 

 chestnut ; under tail-coverts chiefly chestnut. 



The young have the head brown ; the upper plumage greyish 

 brown ; the wing-spots very rufous ; the chin, throat, and breast 

 brown ; the remainder of the lower plumage fulvous-brown with 

 the axillaries pale chestnut. 



Bill black ; legs, feet, and claws dark bluish grey ; iris brown 

 (Davison). 



Length about 4'3 ; tail 1'7 ; wing 2-5 ; tarsus '6 ; bill from gape '4. 

 Distribution. The Himalayas from Kumaon to Murree and 

 Gilgit at elevations of from 6000 to 12,000 feet, extending into 

 Afghanistan. 



Habits, <$>*c. Breeds at 6000 to 8000 feet from March to June, 

 constructing a nest of fur and wool, resting on a foundatibn of moss, 

 in a hole in a tree, wall, or rock. The eggs, six to eight in number, 

 are pinkish white, blotched and spotted with bright brownish red ; 

 they measure about '61 by '47. 



