IBBY'S LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 83 



GEANIVORtE. 



Family PARIDJE. (Bonaparte.) 



Genus Acred u la. ( K. L. Koch.) 



Generic Characters. — Bill very short, strong, much compressed, both 

 mandibles curved, the upper considerably longer than the lower. Nostrils 

 basal, round, concealed by the plumage. Eyelids broad crenate. Wings 

 with ten primaries: the first short, the second shorter than the ninth, the 

 third shorter than the seventh, the fourth and sixth nearly equal, but 

 shorter than the fifth, which is the longest in the wing. Tail very long, 

 narrow and graduated, the outer feathers being only about one third of 

 the length of the middle pair. Legs with the tarsus long and scutellated ; 

 feet moderate, the anterior toes united to the second joint, the outer toe 

 longer than the inner, the hind toe stout, and armed with a long hooked 

 claw. — K. L. Koch. 



IRBY'S LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 



Acredula Irbii. 



Acredida Irbii, Sharpe and Dresser; P. Z. S., 1871, p. 312. 



" " Dresser; Birds of Europe, part 15 (text), 



plate 102, part 14. 

 Parus caudatas, Of Authors, in Italy and Spain. 



Acredula caudata, Salvadori; Faun, d'ltal. Ucc, p. 67, 1871. 



Specific Characters. — White band from forehead to nape narrow, and having 

 the sides of the head deep black. Back bluish grey, which on the rump 

 is slightly mixed with dark pink. Upper wing coverts sooty black, slightly 

 mingled with grey on the inner side. Primaries dark brown ; the secondaries 

 lighter, with their outer webs very narrowly edged with white. The four 

 upper tail feathers black, the others with an outer border of white, broader 

 at the tip. Under parts whitish, with grey longitudinal spots on the crop, 

 and the lower abdomen and flanks deeply tinged with rosy. Bill black; 

 feet dark brown ; iris brownish red ; eye ring orange. Length five inches ; 

 carpus to tip two inches and one fifth; tarsus half an inch. The above 



