BRITISH BIRDS. 213 



THE BEARDED TITMOUSE. 



(Parus Bianniciis, Linn. Mesaugc moustache, 

 Temm.) 



LENGTH somewhat more than six inches. The 

 bill is orange, but so delicate that it changes on 

 the death of the bird to a dingy yellow; eyes also 

 orange ; head and back part of the neck pearl grey, 

 or light ash; on each side of the head, from the 

 eye, there is a black mark extending downwards 

 on the neck, and ending in a point, not unlike a 

 mustachio ; the throat and fore part of the neck 

 are silvery white; the back, rump, and tail light 

 rust colour, as are the belly, sides, and thighs ; 

 the breast is delicate flesh colour; the vent black; 

 lesser coverts of the wings dusky, the greater rusty, 

 with pale edges; the quills are dusky, edged with 

 white, those next the body with rusty on the exte- 

 rior web, and with white on the inner; the bastard 

 wing is dusky, edged and tipped with white : legs 



