3 
In Russia and Poland it is found during the summer, but not so numerous as during the 
seasons of migration. As regards its range in those countries, Mr. L. Taczanowski writes to us 
that it breeds in Poland, but in small numbers. In winter, however, they are numerous, and it 
appears as if they were reinforced by arrivals from the north. Professor Kessler says that they 
arrive at Kiew late in the autumn, and pass the winter in company with other Titmice and 
small birds: he never observed them there in the summer season. According to Professor 
Bogdanoff it is common in autumn and early in winter near Kazan, and the bird-catchers assured 
him that it breeds there also. 
How far to the eastward the true P. ater is found it is difficult to state with certainty; but 
Dr. Taczanowski writes to us that immature and adult birds obtained from Dauria and Lake Baikal 
by Dr. Dybowski agree precisely with European specimens. 
Passing again to the westward, we find it common, but chiefly a migrant, in Livonia and 
Esthonia—also common throughout the whole of Germany, but numerous or scarce at different 
seasons of the year; for it generally moves northwards to breed, and wanders again to the south 
in the autumn. In Denmark it is recorded by Kjzrbdlling as not occurring in the summer but 
only in the autumn and winter. Mr. Benzon, however, writes to us that it certainly breeds there, 
as Mr. Erichsen found them numerous this last spring (1871), and expects to procure Danish-taken 
eggs this coming season; and Mr. Erichsen himself writes to us that when collecting in Jutland, 
in the summer of 1871, he found this species tolerably abundant in the pine-woods at Vester 
Palsgaard, and considers that it also occurs in many of the woods in Jutland during the breeding- 
season. In Holland it is, as we are informed by Mr. Labouchere, very common in some, but 
on the other hand is but rarely seen in other parts of the country; a few remain to breed in the 
provinces of Utrecht and Gelderland. Krcener gives it as a resident in Alsace, where it inhabits 
_in summer the fir- and pine-forests in the mountains, spreading in autumn over the plains. 
According to De Selys Longchamps it is found in Belgium more or less regularly during the 
winter, generally arriving in September and leaving in April. It is found throughout France, 
but is sedentary only in some portions of the country. In Provence it is migratory, but its 
appearances are irregular. In Spain our friend Mr. Howard Saunders records it as found 
near Granada and Cordova in the spring; and according to the Rev. A. C. Smith, “though 
scarcely a rare bird, this species does not seem to frequent Portugal as it does some other 
southern countries of Europe.” 
In Savoy, according to Bailly, it is common and sedentary. In the summer they are generally 
found in the pine-, spruce-, and larch-woods, and descend (except a few who brave the rigours of 
the winter) at the first frost, either to migrate south or to take up their quarters in the small 
non-eyergreen woods on the hillocks at the foot of the mountains or on the plains. Giglioli 
found it common near Pisa; but, as a rule, Salvadori considers this species to be by no means 
abundant in Italy, where it passes the summer in the mountains, and, after nesting, descends to 
the plains in autnmn. Doderlein confirms this by stating that it is rare in Modena, and of 
irregular passage through the Emilia. In Sicily he records it as very rare in the lower districts, 
and only somewhat less so in the mountain-woods, especially those of Fiumedinisi, near Messina, 
where, according to Benoit, it nests. In Sardinia our friend Mr. A. B. Brooke says it is by no 
means common, and he has only seen a few in the ilex-forests, generally high up. 
DL 
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