84 IBBT8 LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 



description is from a specimen sent to me by Colonel Irby, which is 

 figured. 



A young specimen sent to me by Mr. Savile Reid, also figured, has the 

 top of the head white; sides of the head, forehead, back, and upper wing 

 coverts dark brown tinged with vinous. Primaries rich dark brown ; 

 secondaries the same, bordered all round with white. Upper tail feathers 

 black; the lateral ones black, with their outer webs white, broader at the 

 tip. Under parts white, mingled from the crop with grey. Under tail 

 coverts vinous. Beak black; feet light brown. Length five inches; wing 

 two inches and one fifth; tarsus half an inch. 



I have given a description of this bird under the heading of 

 specific characters, in order that my readers may see at a glance the 

 differences between the species discovered by Colonel Irby at Gib- 

 raltar, and introduced by Mr. Dresser into his "Birds of Europe" as 

 a new species, having previously described it with Mr. Sharpe at a 

 meeting of the Zoological Society. 



In its young stage it is stated by Mr. Dresser to be like the young 

 plumage of our well-known Long-tailed Tit, Acredula caudatus, or, 

 as Mr. Dresser calls it, A. rosea, which I think is premature, because 

 it has not been definitely proved that the Acredula rosea of Blasius 

 is the same as our bird, and inexpedient, because the term caudatus 

 is well known to everybody, and rosea only to a favoured few. Be 

 this as it may, however, the difference between the two birds {A. 

 Irbii and A. caudatus) is sufficiently strong to give Acredula Irbii 

 specific distinction. 



The habits and nidification of this bird are similar to those of its 

 near relation. It is named after its discoverer, my friend Lieutenant- 

 Colonel Irby, who is a zealous and hard-working naturalist. 



Two other Long-tailed Tits have been mentioned as occurring in 

 Europe. One found in Northern and Central Europe, in which the 

 head is quite white, and which may turn out to be as good a species 

 as that just described; and one figured and described by Mr. Dresser 

 as Acredula tephronata. It is stated, however, by Dr. Gunther, who 

 first described and figured the bird, ("Ibis/' 1865,) to have been 

 received from the Asiatic side of Turkey by Mr. Robson. It will 

 therefore not be included in this work. 



The old bird figured is from a specimen sent to me by Lieutenant- 

 Colonel Irby. The young and the egg are in my own collection. 

 They were taken at Gibraltar, and sent to me by Mr. Savile Reid. 



The bird has also been figured in Mr. Dresser's "Birds of Europe," 

 part 14, and described in part 15. 



The egg is now figured for the first time. 



