Vol. xliii.] 104 



La Touche, Ibis, 1892, p. 418. 



Hickett and LaTouche, Ibis, 1905, p. 27 (P. atriceps Horsf .). 



Note. — The real explanation of the presence of these 

 three forms is most probably that we have at Foochow 

 two birds meeting at their southern and norther limits : — 



Parus minor T. & S. has become smaller and generally 



duller in colour. 

 Parus cinereus Vieillot is here for some climatic reason 



assuming a green back. 



I think that the slightly green-backed and the grey- 

 backed birds are the same and should stand as 



Parus cinereus commixtus Swinhoe, 7: 7 



and that the small green-backed form oi Parus minor J.& S. 

 should be called 



^ Parus major fohkienensis, subsp. nov. 



The only alternative is the hybrid theory and suppression 

 of Parus commixtus Swinhoe. One fact remains certain, 

 Parus cinereus is not a subspecies of Parus major. 



Mr. J. D. La Touche further described a new subspecies 

 of the Yellow-browed Tit, as follows : — 



The West China and Indian Yellow-browed Tits have 



lately been subdivided into several races, none of which fit 



the Far Eastern bird. I therefore propose to separate our 



Fohkien bird, which has hitherto been styled Sylviparus 



■ modestus Burt., under the name of 



■\~ Sylviparus modestus ricketti, subsp. uov. 



Upper parts somewhat pale olive-green, with a slight tinge 

 of grey. Underparts pale greenish yellow, turning to pale 

 dull greyish green on the throat and to pale green on sides 

 of breast and flanks. The eye-ring is dull whitish yellow, 

 the under wing-coverts pale yellow. 



Iris dark brown, bill livid plumbeous tipped darker, legs 

 purplish plumbeous. 



Wing, S 58*5-61 mm., ? 56 mm. 



Tail, c? 35-39 mm., ? 33 mm. 



