PASSE RES 
bo 
Coloration extremely variable, See characters of subfamilies. Sexes mostly alike, some- 
times different. 
Geographical Distribution. Palearctic, Nearctic, Indo-Malayan, Australian, New 
Zealand and Ethiopian Regions. 
Six subfamilies with twenty-four genera. 
Habits and Reproduction, The Titmice are arboreal, very active, non-migratory birds. 
Their foods consists both of insects and various kinds of seeds, fruits etc, Nidification variable: 
nest either placed in holes of trees, crevices of walls etc.; or a very bulky purse-like or retort- 
shaped structure, suspended or attached to branches of twigs of trees or bushes (Remizinae, 
Psaltriparinae); or an open, cup-shaped structure, placed on or near the ground (Panurinae) etc, 
Eggs variable in shape and colour. 
Observations. The family Paridae, as here defined, is certainly a rather heterogenous 
group, the last two subfamilies, Paradoxornithinae and Certhiparinae, being of somewhat 
doubtful affinities, yet they appear to be more nearly related to the Paridae than to any other 
family, 
Bibliography. Gadow, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. Vol. 8, 1883, pp. 1-79; Hellmayr, Tierreich, Livr. 18, 
1903, pp. 29-167; Ridgway, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. no. 5o, Pt. 3, 1904, pp. 375-436 1). 
KEY TO THE SUBFAMILIES OF PARID/A= 
1. Exposed culmen decidedly shorter than inner toe (without claw.) | Nasal 
opening concealed by antrorse latervo-frontal plumules|. Tarsus nearly 
iwicelas lone sas middle toe (ent ort cla) 9) 10) ees ae se ene) 
— Exposed culmen equal to, ov longer than, inner toe (without claw). Tarsus 
much less than twice as long as middle toe (without claw). First primary 
about half aslongasisecond ..) es es ee 
— Exposed culmen about equal to inner toe (without claw). Tarsus more than 
twice as longas middle toe(without claw). First primary much more than 
half as long as second. Second primary equal in length to secondaries. . . . . . . . «. « « 4s 
nN 
. Nasal fossa occupying about basal half of maxilla, nasal opening non- 
operculate, voundish. Maxilla abruptly contracted terminally, with 
culmen strongly ridged. Under tail coverts much less than half as long 
as longest vectrices. First primary well-developed, nearly half as long 
USISCCONAN elu 3 2 po) = 1a 40 ae eee a oc ee eee OUlbofame, Pe SAr RP ARINe 
— Nasal fossa occupying much less than basal half of maxilla, broadly oper- 
culate, with slit ltke nasal opening situated near lower edge of groove. 
Maxilla not abruptly contracted, though narrow, terminally, with 
culmen above much vounded. Under tail coverts fully half as long as 
longest vectrices. First primary vudimentary, veduced to a minute, 
lanceolate feather, not reaching to tip of primary coverts . . . . 5. Subfam. Panurin#. 
1 Mr. Ridgway’s admirable work has been of the greatest assistance to me in the preparation of this revision, 
an 1 most of the family- and generic characters have been taken from it. 
