172 PARUS 



rest of under parts dull white, the sides of breast and flanks washed with 

 pale ashy brown ; bill blackish ; legs plumbeous ; iris dark brown. Cul- 

 men 0*5, wing 2'8, tail 2'5, tarsus 0'75. Sexes alike. 



Hal. Greece, Hungary, Turkey, and Asia Minor east to 

 Persia. 



In habits it resembles the other Titmice, does not, however, 

 collect in small flocks in winter, but lives in pairs. Its call- 

 note is also said to differ from that of the other Titmice. It 

 Inhabits the plains, but is found tolerably high up in the 

 mountains. It nests in holes of trees either high above or near 

 the ground, and is also said to breed in holes in the rocks. It 

 does not deposit so many eggs as the other Titmice, but never 

 more than 7 or 8. These resemble those of Parus major, and 

 measure about 071 by 0'55 inch. 



251. SIBERIAN TITMOUSE. 

 PARUS CINCTUS. 



Parus cincius, Bodd. Tabl. PI. Enl. p. 46 (17-83) ; Dresser, iii. p. 125, 

 pi. 112 ; Gadow, Cat. B. Br. Mus. viii. p. 35 ; P. s'ibiricus, Gmel. 

 Syst. Nat. i. p. 1013 (1788) ; Gould, B. of E. iii. pi. 151, fig. 2. 



Lappsk Mes, Swed. ; Lapin-tiainen, Pistitiainen, Finn. ; Kada- 

 pifa, Lapp. 



ad. (Lapland). Crown and nape dusky brown, the throat blackish ; 

 upper parts pale golden brown, slightly washed with rufous ; wings and tail 

 blackish, the former externally with narrow whitish margins, the tail 

 washed with grey, the outer feather edged and tipped with dull white ; 

 feathers on the lower throat narrowly margined with white ; chest and 

 centre of abdomen white ; rest of under parts pale rusty rufous ; bill 

 blackish ; legs plumbeous ; iris reddish brown. Culmen 0'4, wing 2'8, 

 tail 2 - 8, tarsus 0'7 inch. Sexes alike. 



Hal. Northern Scandinavia to the margin of the fir belt; 

 north Russia east to the Yenesei. 



In its general habits it is active and lively, restless and 

 always on the move, hunting after its insect food. It affects 

 pine-forests, being less seldom seen in non-evergreen growth, 

 and is chiefly to be seen amongst scattered large trees or their 

 young growth. It breeds in June, either excavating its own 

 nest-hole in a dead tree or making use of a deserted Wood- 

 pecker's hole. The nest is constructed of moss, wool, hair, and 

 feathers, and the eggs from 6 to 9 in number are white, spotted 



