PARUS LEDOUCL 
(ALGERIAN COAL TITMOUSE.) 
Parus ledouci, Malh. Mém. Soc. Hist. Nat. Moselle, 1842, p. 45. 
Bou reziza of the Arabs (Loche). 
Figura notabilis. 
Gurney, Ibis, 1871, pl. iii. 
Ad. pileo summo et collo postico laterali nitidé purpureo-nigris: plag4 nuchali magna pallidé citrind: genis 
cum regione paroticad et colli lateribus leté citrinis: dorso toto viridescenti-cinereo, uropygio paullo 
flavidiore: tectricibus alarum minimis, dorso concoloribus, medianis et majoribus extis sordidé cinereo 
limbatis et albido terminatis, fasciam duplicem alarem formantibus: remigibus et rectricibus cineras- 
centi-brunneis, extuis dorsi colore limbatis: secundariis intimis vix albido terminatis: gutture toto 
nigerrimo: corpore reliquo subtis leté citrino, hypochondriis magis olivascentibus: subalaribus 
albidis, citrino lavatis : rostro nigro: pedibus plumbeis: iride saturaté brunned. 
Adult. Crown of the head, extending backwards as far as the interscapulary region, glossy purplish black ; 
a large nuchal patch yellowish white; cheeks, ear-coverts, and sides of the neck bright lemon-yellow ; 
entire back greenish grey with a slight dash of olive, very little brighter on the ramp; wing-coverts 
blackish, the least ones washed with greenish grey like the back, the median and greater coverts 
externally bordered with dull grey, and tipped with whitish, forming a double alar bar; quills and 
tail-feathers ashy brown, externally margined with greenish grey like the back, the innermost 
secondaries almost imperceptibly tipped with white; entire throat deep black, the rest of the under 
surface of the body bright lemon-yellow, the flanks inclining to greenish; under wing-coverts whitish, 
washed with lemon-yellow; bill black; feet leaden-grey; iris dark brown. Total length 4°3 inches, 
culmen 0:4, wing 2°5, tail 2:0, tarsus 0°75. 
Tus Titmouse is the Algerian representative of P. ater, to the young of which it bears some 
resemblance. 
It was first described by Malherbe from a female specimen obtained near Bone by M. 
Ledoux, after whom it is named. Mr. L. Taczanowski informs us that in Algeria he found this 
species less common than P. wltramarinus, and only met with it in the pine-forests (Pinus 
maritima) near Batna, in the mountains of Bonarif and Aurés. Its habits are precisely similar 
to those of Parus ater. It is found in flocks with Creepers and Goldencrests, and climbs 
about the branches uttering a similar note to Parus ater, in a low tone. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., 
says, ‘‘I only obtained this species at Miliana, where I observed two pairs on the low trees upon 
the sides of the mountains. I did not then distinguish them from the Coal Tit (Parus ater), 
with which their habits and actions appeared to agree. The specimen in the Algiers Museum 
was killed at Beni Slimam.” 
Loche says that the habits of this Titmouse coincide with those of the Coal Titmouse. It 
