SIBERIAN TIT. 63 



I am indebted to Mr. Newton for the following interesting details 

 of this bird: — "My own opportunities of observing Paras sibiricus 

 were not sufficient to enable me to say in what particulars (if in 

 any) its habits differ from those of the other species of the genus 

 with which I am acquainted, beyond the fact that its call-notes are 

 easily recognisable as distinct from anything else. Indeed from the 

 information I have at various times received from the late Mr. John 

 Wolley, I should suppose that in manners it closely resembles the 

 rest of the Titmice. It is resident throughout the year in the district 

 around Muonioniska, and as he has often assured me, was the only 

 species which he found to breed there, although in autumn the 

 Marsh Titmouse makes its appearance, and on one occasion a solitary 

 Great Titmouse was obtained by him. I am unable to give even an 

 outline of the range of Parus sibiricus in Lapland; but I do not 

 remember seeing it until, in descending the river Muonio, we had 

 entered the region of the Scotch fir, (Pinus sylvestris.) I never 

 found a nest myself, nor saw one in situ. It breeds in holes of trees, 

 whether naturally formed by decay, or excavated by Woodpeckers. 

 The nest is a mass of hair, principally from the lemming, or some of 

 the voles, but occasionally from the alpine hare, mixed with a little 

 green moss, black fibrous lichen, and willow down. Seven appears 

 to be the usual complement of eggs, but eight, and even nine are 

 sometimes laid. This Titmouse seems to pay as little regard to the 

 rights of priority as some ornithologists do, for several instances 

 occurred to Mr. Wolley's knowledge, of his dispossessing the Common 

 Redstart from a convenient hole in which the latter bird had begun 

 its nest. The ordinary cry of Parus sibiricus is perhaps best expressed 

 by the words e Pistee-tee,' pronounced in a hissing tone, and from this 

 cry the bird gets its Finnish name. By those of the people who are 

 inclined to superstition it is regarded as a bird of bad omen, and 

 the squirrel-shooter or bear -hunter looks forward to a luckless expe- 

 dition if in starting in the morning, he is greeted by the notes of 

 the busy little Pistee-tianen." 



The adult male in breeding plumage has the top of the head and 

 nape dusky brown; the back and upper wing coverts russet brown, 

 mottled with black. Wings and tail dark hair brown. The throat is 

 black, and between it and the top of the head is a broad patch of 

 pure white, extending from the gape to the scapularies, and increasing 

 in width from before backwards. All the rest of the under parts are 

 russet, lighter on the crop, and verging into grey where it joins the 

 black of the throat. Wings and tail underneath slate brown; beak 

 black; feet lead grey; iris dark brown. 



