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4 
‘Troms6 and Trondhjem, and common on the southern fells, particularly on the Dovre and 
Langfjeld, as also on the Hallingdal fells, where it was first observed in 1827 by Professor 
Lovén. It is most abundant on the upper boundary of the fir-growth on the fells between 
Gudbrandsdal and Valders, and particularly so at Vaage; in 1863, however, Dr. Printz found it 
breeding as far down as Odnes, below 603°, and scarcely 800 feet above the sea.” 
As will be seen from the foregoing, this Titmouse inhabits the extreme north of our 
continent, only ranging somewhat further south when compelled by the severe cold of the arctic 
regions to seek other and more congenial localities to sustain life. Like all the rest of the 
Titmice, it is an active, lively, and noisy bird—during the winter season fond of visiting human 
habitations, and pecking amongst the refuse that has been cast out, in search of any particles of 
fat that may be found. In its habits it much resembles the Marsh-Titmouse, and when 
wandering it is often found in company with these. Its note is also very similar to that of this 
bird, but is louder and much deeper in tone. Its food consists, like that of the Great Titmouse, 
of insects and, to some extent, of seeds of the various northern plants; and, like the latter 
bird, it is especially fond of fat. Its Lapp name (Hada-pija) means literally hoof-pecker, as 
when the Lapps slaughter a Reindeer this bird is said to peck in search of fat at the hoofs of 
the slaughtered beast, which have been thrown out. ‘The above short résumé is taken from 
Dresser’s note-book, and is principally founded on the account of its habits communicated to him 
by a brother of Magnus von Wright, who was a great sportsman and knew the bird well. 
In Dresser’s collection are four eggs taken by the late Mr. H. A. Wheelwright near 
Quickjock, in Lapland. These eggs measure £6 by $$ of an inch, are pure white covered with 
indistinct light red shell-markings and rich red overlying surface-spots, which are collected chiefly 
at the larger end. 
The following records have reference to the occurrence of the species in Siberia :— 
Middendorff speaks of a large variety, as big as P. lugubris, which he procured on the Jenesei, 
below the Polar Circle. In April the typical Parus sibiricus passed in flocks through the woods 
between the Amga and Oldan, but moved on and did not seem to nest in the Stanowoj moun- 
tains. Radde only procured one specimen, in August, on the Amoor, and considers it to be one 
of the rarest of the birds of Eastern Siberia. Schrenck did not meet with it. The Siberian bird 
to which Von Middendorff refers is not identically the same as the European species; and Von 
Wright, who first observed this fact, proposed to call the latter by Lundahl’s name of P. lap- 
ponicus, believing (doubtless from its designation) that the true P. s¢biricus of Gmelin was the 
Siberian species. Whether the European bird ever occurs in Siberia has yet to be determined ; 
but there can be no doubt of its being the species figured by Montbeillard in the ‘ Planches 
Enluminées’ (pl. 708); and as both Boddaert’s and Gmelin’s titles were founded on this plate, 
Von Wright’s name must be added as a synonym of P. cinctus of the first-named author. 
Respecting the eastern form, Professor Sundevall writes as follows:—‘‘ Parus sibiricus, forma 
major, ad Jeniseam sub cire. polari” (Midd. JU. c.), differs from the Lapland bird merely by being 
a little paler in coloration, and by the paler rufous tinge on the sides of the body. The differ- 
ence in the length of the wing and tail referred to by Middendorff (62 millims. and 72 millims.) 
does not appear in a specimen brought back by that author, and procured for our Museum from 
St. Petersburg. In this bird the wing measures 68 millims., and the tail 69 millims. The other 
