ACREDULA IRBIL 
(IRBY’S LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE.) 
Acredula irbii, Sharpe and Dresser, P. Z. S. 1871, p. 312. 
Parus caudatus, auctt. Hisp. et Ital. passim. 
Acredula caudata, Salvadori, Faun. d’Ital. Ucc. p. 67 (1871). 
3 ad. fronte et vertice medio albis, cineraceo lavatis: capite laterali et collo postico sericeo-nigris : regione oculari 
et facie laterali albidis, regione paroticé nigricante lineata: dorso toto pulchré cinereo, scapularibus 
vinaceis, albido terminatis: uropygio vix vinascente tincto: supracaudalibus nigris obsoleté cinereo 
apicatis: tectricibus alarum nigris, majoribus intimis cano lavatis: remigibus nigris, secundariis 
interioribus extus albido limbatis, intimis latits : cauda nigricante, rectricibus exterioribus quatuor extus 
gradatim apicem versus albis: subtus albidus, pectore maculis brunneis paucis notato: hypochondriis, 
abdomine imo et subcaudalibus rosaceis, his saturatioribus: subalaribus niveis: rostro nigro: pedibus 
nigris : iride pallidé brunnescenti-rubra : annulo ophthalmico aurantiaco. 
g ad. Crown of the head whitish from the forehead to the nape, marked with brownish spots; sides of 
the crown black, extending backwards on to the hinder neck, which is glossy black; the forehead ~is 
whitish, and the black on the sides of the head is so broad that the mesial white streak on the crown 
seems very narrow; a ring round the eye, cheeks, and ear-coverts white, the latter streaked with 
greyish brown; entire back, beginning from the interscapulary region, clear bluish grey, the scapulars 
on each side of the interscapulary region pale vinous; a very faint tinge of rosy mixed with the grey of 
the rump; upper tail-coverts blackish, with obsolete greyish tips; upper wing-coverts blackish, the 
innermost greater coverts slightly washed with ashy white; quills blackish, the inner secondaries 
externally bordered with white, the dorsal ones paler, but not whitish; tail brownish black, the four 
inner rectrices entirely so, the next with a very narrow white border, and the three outermost white on 
the outer web, and becoming gradually more marked with white on the inner web towards the external 
feathers; underparts of the body whitish, the breast with a few small spots of ashy brown, the flanks 
and under tail-coverts washed with a delicate rose-colour ; under wing-coverts snow-white ; bill black ; 
feet blackish ; iris brownish red; eye-ring orange. 
Obs. The young birds appear to be so similar to those of A. rosea that no description is necessary. 
As we stated in writing the history of Acredula caudata, so little is known respecting the 
geographical range of the three species of Long-tailed Titmice, that we are as yet quite unable 
to fix the limits of their range with any degree of certainty. This species is certainly the one 
inhabiting Spain, and is likewise found in Italy; but we cannot state whether it is met with 
throughout France, owing to our not having been able to procure a series of specimens from 
that country. MM. Degland and Gerbe expressly state that the Long-tailed Titmouse of France 
does not assume a white head, and that it differs from the northern species; but whether the 
bird inhabiting that country should be referred to Acredula irbw or to A. rosea remains yet to 
be ascertained. In Spain this speciesis not common. Lord Lilford did not himself ever observe 
it in that country; but a nest was brought to him by his collector (Severin), who looked on it as 
