276 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Gen. Parus, L., (restricted). 



Form typical ; head not crested ; bill usually stout and moderately 

 short ; tail rather short. 



There are two or three types in this genus, even as now res- 

 tricted, each of which is represented in India. The first is that 

 Parus atcr of Europe ; the second that of P. major ; and the 

 third, without a representative in Europe, that of my P. nuchalis, 

 is allied, apparently, to the African group Melaniparus. 



642. Parus cemodius, Hodgson. 

 J. A. S. XIII. 943. 



The Himalayan Cole-Tit. 



Descr. — ' Very closely allied to P. ater of Europe, but the bill 

 decidedly more slender and compressed; the black also descends 

 more upon the breast, and spreads laterally, circumscribing the 

 sides of the neck ; and the back is less tinged with olivaceous, 

 while the belly would appear to be more rufescent than its 

 European representative. Nepal.' 



Such is the description given. There is no specimen of this bird 

 in the Museum of the Asiatic Society, nor in that of the India 

 House. 



P. ater has the head, chin, and throat, black, with a broad white 

 cheek spot, and a nuchal spot of the same color ; the back and 

 wing-coverts bluish grey, the latter with white spots, forming two 

 bars ; wings and tail brownish grey, the former edged with green ; 

 the breast dull white ; belly, flanks, and under tail coverts fawn 

 colour, tinged with green; the upper tail-coverts also greenish 

 fawn. Bill and feet black. Length 4^ inches, wing 2|. 



643. Parus Atkinsoni, Jerdon. 



The Sikhim Cole-Tit. 



Descr. — Whole head, chin, and throat, black, with the white 

 nuchal spot and white cheek band as in ater ; upper parts dark 

 leaden-grey, darker on the wings and tail, the former of which is 

 totally without white spots ; beneath, from the throat, dull grey, 

 slightly tinged with rufescent ; under tail-coverts ferruginous. 



