MAKSH-TIT. 



477 



is found which, were it not probable that intermediate forms occur, might 

 fairly be considered specifically distinct. The tail is rounded, slightly 

 shorter than that of the East-Siberian birds ; the upper parts are sandy 

 white, and the flanks pure white. This bird may be looked upon as the 

 extreme arctic form. Southwards, in Japan the Marsh-Tit, to which I 

 have g^veu the name of P. japonicus *, has the tail, although rounded, still 

 further decreased in length, and the colour of the upper parts is only 

 slightly paler than in South-European examples ; but the flanks are only 

 faintly suffused with brown. In North China the Marsh-Tit of South- 

 west Europe (P. palustris) reappears : the tail is nearly even, and equal in 

 length to that of its European ally ; and the only perceptible difference is 

 that it is a trifle paler on the upper parts than examples from the British 

 Islands t- The Marsh-Tit of Turkestan, P. songarus, is apparently speci- 



* To better and more clearly express the differences found in the Marsh-Tit, I have 

 drawn up the following Table : 



South-west Europe, P. 

 including British 

 Islands. 



Scandinavia and North- P. borealis 

 west Russia. 



North-east Russia and P. baicalfnsis 



West Siberia. 



East Siberia P. brertrostrts . 



inches. 

 1-9 to 2-1 



2-1 to 2-35 

 2-4 to 2-5 

 2-5 to 2-6 



Kamtschatka P. kamtschatkejisif.. 2'4 to 2-3 



Japan P. japvnicus -2-2 to 2'1 



China .... P. palustns 



2-0 



Turkestan 



P. songarus | 2-3 to 2-25 



- 



Tail nearly even ; upper park 

 sandy brown. British ex- 

 amples most sandy; flanks 

 pale sandy brown. 



Tail rounded; upper parts 

 slate-grey ; flanks white, 

 slightly suffused with brown. 



Tail rounded ; upper parts 

 slate-grey ; flanks white, 

 slightly suffused with brown. 



Tail nearly even ; bill small : 

 upper parts slate-grey, with 

 a slight shade of brown ; 

 flanks white, slightly suf- 

 fused with brown. 



Tail rounded; tipper parts 

 sandy white; flanks pure 

 white. 



Tail rounded: upper parts 

 pale sandy brown; flanks 

 white, slightly more suffused 

 with brown than in P. bai- 

 caknsis. 



Tail nearly even ; upper parts 

 sandy brown, very slightly 

 paler than British examples; 

 flanks pale sandy brown. 



Tail rounded ; upper parts 

 rich sandy brown ; flanks 

 sandy brown. 



* Dresser. ' Birds of Europe,' iii. p. 120, is in error in saying that the Chinese form most 

 nearly resembles P. borealis. 



