PARUS 165 



caterpillars, which it picks from the branches of trees or from 

 the ground. Its nest, which is constructed of grass and moss, 

 lined with hair, feathers, or wool, is placed in the hole of a tree 

 or wall, or occasionally in a hole in the ground, and the eggs, 

 6 to 9, or even more in number, are deposited in April or May, 

 and are white, marked, chiefly at the larger end, with dark red 

 spots and blotches, and measure about O58 by 0'45. 



In eastern Asia these birds frequently have the occipital 

 feathers slightly elongated, and have been separated (P. pekin- 

 ensis, David), but this is by no means a constant difference. 



238. SUBSP. PARUS BRITANNICUS. 



Parus britannicus, Sharpe and Dresser, Ann. and Mag. Nat. Hist. (4), 

 viii. p. 437 (1871) ; Newton, i. p. 492 ; Dresser, iii. p. 93, pi. 107, 

 fig. 2 ; Gadow, Cat. B. Br. MUG. viii. p. 43 ; Hewitson, i. p. 155, 

 pi. xxxix. fig. 4 ; Saunders, p. 105 ; Lilford, ii. p. 104, pi. 47. 



Ad. (England), Differs from P. ater in having the back olive-grey, the 

 rump clear buff, and the flanks and under tail-coverts brownish buff 

 Culmen 0*4, wing 2'3, tail 1*7, tarsus 0'7 inch. 



Hob. Great Britain. 



In habits, note, and nidification this bird does not differ from 

 P. ater. 



239. SUBSP. PARUS CYPRIOTES. 



Parus Cypriotes, Dresser, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 563 ; id. B. of E. ix. p. 123, 

 pi. 658. 



Ad. (Cyprus). Kesembles P. britannicus, differing in having the nuchal 

 patch much smaller, and the black extending much further down the 

 throat. Culmen 0'6, wing 2'3, tail 1'9, tarsus 0'75 inch. The young bird 

 differs in having the crown brownish black, the throat dull sooty, the 

 white portions of the plumage washed with yellowish buff, and the flanks 

 browner than in the adult. 



Hob. The island of Cyprus. 



Inhabits the pine trees on Cyprus at an elevation of 4,000 

 feet, where it was met with in small parties of five or six, and 

 was not numerous. Its note is a feeble edition of that of 

 P. ater, from which species it does not differ in habits. 



Its nest and eggs are as yet unknown. 



