72 PAEID^E. 



On the Spanish side of the Straits they are extremely plentiful, 

 and to be heard wherever there are any trees, nesting in April 

 in holes of the cork-trees. There is a great increase of their 

 numbers in winter, when they visit the Alameda and gardens at 

 Gibraltar, being the only observed Calpeian representative of the 

 Tits. 



Male. Crown bluish black ; cheeks white ; black stripe along the middle 

 of the greenish-yellow breast and belly. 



Female. Similar, but black stripe below not so extended. Length 6 

 inches. 



56. Parus cseruleus, Linnseus. The Blue Tit. 



Spanish. Herrerillo (Little smith). 



The Blue Tit is very common in Andalucia, being resident and 

 particularly abundant in the Cork-wood of Almoraima, generally 

 nesting (about the middle of April) in the decayed hollow 

 branches of the cork-trees. 



In April 1894, at Retin, I saw a pair of these birds going in 

 and out of a dome-shaped nest, constructed externally of small 

 sticks, which they had either built or enlarged, at the end of a 

 horizontal bough of a cork-tree. It looked like a miniature 

 Magpie's nest, and I could, when it was first found, see the light 

 through : unable to reach it without a ladder, I left for Gibraltar, 

 and Verner, who remained behind for a few days, reported 

 that ultimately they began to dismantle the nest and carry the 

 materials to some more usual situation. 



Spanish specimens are very bright in colour one or two so much so 

 that, until I had seen a specimen of Parus tenerffce, I imagined them to 

 be that species. 



Crown and wing-coverts azure-blue. Length 4^ inches. 



57. Parus teneriflfee, Less. The Ultramarine Tit. 



Moorish. Bou rezizi (Father of the little turban). 



" Is resident near Tangier, but less frequent in December and 



