THE CONTINENTAL GREAT TITMOUSE. 225 



Genus PARUS L. 



PARUS Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 189 (1758 Type by subsequent 

 designation : P. major). 



Comprising all our Titmice, with the exception of the Long- 

 tailed and Bearded Tits. Bill variable as to shape and size, but more 

 or less strong. Nostrils non-operculate, completely concealed by 

 dense, antrorse plumules. Tongue, obtuse, its tip with strong 

 bristles. Wing rounded, 1st primary much less than half as long 

 as 2nd, considerably longer than primary-coverts, 2nd shorter than 

 3rd and 7th, equal to 9th or 8th. Tail rounded or slightly emarginate, 

 never much graduated. Tarsus strong, front scutellate. Sexes 

 not conspicuously different. The latest review of the genus by 

 Hellmayr (1911) recognizes forty -seven species in one hundred and 

 sixty-nine subspecies. Nests in holes, eggs spotted. Habitat : 

 Palsearctic, Nearctic, Indo-Malayan, and Ethiopian regions. 



Key to species of genus PARUS. 



l f Back greenish ....... 2 



[ Back brown, brownish, grey or greyish . . 3 



, Larger, wing 70 mm. or more, continuous dark 

 area (black in adult, grey-brown in young) from 

 2^ bill to chest ........ P. major, p. 225 



Smaller, wing under 70 mm., only slaty or grey 

 * bar across lower throat ...... P. ccerideus, p. 230 



o f Head distinctly crested ...... P. cristatus, p. 238 



[Head not crested ....... 4 



er wing-coverts with whitish bars or spots . P. ater, p. 233 



pper wing-coverts uniform .... 5 



f Adult with tips of feathers of crown distinctly glossy P. palustris, p. 241 

 5 j Adult with tips of feathers of crown without any 



gloss .......... P.atricapttliis,p.24:3 



f Upp 

 \ Upp 



PARUS MAJOR 



91. Parus major major L. THE CONTINENTAL GREAT 

 TITMOUSE. 



PARUS MAJOR Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 189 (1758 "Habitat in 

 Europa." Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 



DESCRIPTION. In coloration like British Great Titmouse : mantle 

 sometimes paler and " cleaner " looking but no constant difference. 

 Bill shorter and decidedly more slender, being narrower (more 

 compressed) and less deep, and this is more apparent by comparison 

 than by measurement. N.B. An individual variation with pale 

 cream-colour instead of bright yellow under-parts is not infrequent, 

 especially in more southern portions of range of P. major. 



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