VII 



PANURIDAE 



541 



ings. Acredula apparently incubates with its tail over its back. 

 The hen's bravery when sitting, her hissing challenge, and her 

 speedy return when driven off, are characteristic of Tits. 



Fam. XX. Panuridae. Family rank is now pretty generally 

 accorded to Panurus biarmicus, the " Bearded Tit " or " Eeed- 

 Pheasant," though its 

 affinities are still doubtful. 

 Dr. Gadow, 1 judging from 

 the internal structure, in- 

 clines to the view that it 

 is akin to the Finches, 

 but others place it next 

 to the Tits. The bill is 

 short, curved, rather coni- 

 cal, and without a notch ; 

 the metatarsus is long and 

 scutellated anteriorly ; the 

 wings are short and 

 rounded, the tail is ex- 

 tremely long and gradu- 

 ated. The plumage is 

 orange-brown above, with 

 a grey crown and a black 

 streak from the lores down 



the cheeks, where the feathers are elongated and point backwards ; 

 the wings are varied with black and white ; the throat is greyish, 

 the breast pinkish; the abdomen coloured like the back; the under 

 tail-coverts are black, the bill is yellow. The hen has a buff head, 

 while she lacks the black " moustache " and under tail-coverts. 



This pretty species, which ranges through most of Europe, 

 except Scandinavia and Northern Eussia, and reaches Central 

 Asia, may be seen to advantage on the Norfolk Broads, where it 

 is resident, and still breeds in diminished numbers. In windy 

 weather the separate pairs keep hidden, but at other times, 

 though shy, a quiet observer may see them flitting above the 

 reeds, uttering their clear " ping-ping," or clinging to the flowering 

 tops. Insects and small molluscs, with seeds in winter, constitute 

 the food. From April to August a nest of broad grasses, sedges, and 

 the like, lined with reed-flowers, or exceptionally with vegetable- 



1 Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. viii. 1883, p. 3. 



Fia. 122. Heed Pheasant. Panurus biarmicus. 



