5 
accompanied by an indescribable chattering note; it is generally uttered in a low tone, excepting a 
few call-notes, which are loud. In the spring I surmise that the song is louder; but I cannot state 
for certain, as I sent them to Berlin in March. The call-note is very varied. When on the wing 
they continually utter a loud but fine tir tirr, by which they may be distinguished at a consider~ 
able distance. When they have settled, they look about them and utter a loud and agreeable 
tscherpink tscherpink tscherpink very quickly in succession, and then a note which closely resembles 
the well-known pink pink tschsch of the Coal Titmouse; but the pink is shriller and the last note 
not so harsh. Another note, a very low ¢7rr, appears to me to denote satisfaction ; for it is generally 
uttered when, after feeding, the bird is settled beside its mate. Lastly, they have the note S¢ St¢ 
St, peculiar to all Titmice. They fly low and from bush to bush. ‘The flight consists of a succes- 
sion of bow-shaped lines, is more powerful than that of the Great Titmouse (which flutters more), 
and resembles somewhat that of the Wagtail; this is probably owing to its long tail. Amongst 
the boughs the Azure Titmouse is very active; and if it sits quiet the crest is continually raised 
and depressed ; and I am sure that whoever sees the bird in a wild state will agree with me in 
saying that it is the most beautiful of all the Titmice. Unfortunately, when in confinement it 
loses its beauty, inasmuch as the white head, which is, as it were, powdered over with lovely blue, 
becomes of a yellowish tinge.” 
Dr. Taczanowski has kindly sent us the accompanying observations on the nesting of the 
present bird, which had been forwarded to him by Dr. Dybowski:—‘'This species breeds in holes 
in old trees, especially willows, rarely in the deserted holes of Woodpeckers. ‘The nest is composed 
of the fur of the White Hare and Squirrels, with a few pieces of slender grass, and forms a close 
soft bed fully a centimetre in thickness. All the nests I found were in holes from half a metre 
to one metre above the ground. They lay ten or eleven eggs, which are larger than those of Parus 
ceruleus and in colour resemble those of Parus palustris—except that the red spots are paler, 
smaller and less numerous, generally collected at the larger end; sometimes these spots are so 
small and pale as to be almost imperceptible to the eye. Inform and size they vary ; the measure- 
ments of five eggs from different nests are as follows:—18°5 by 12°5, 17-0 by 12-0, 16°5 by 12:5, 
16-0 by 11-0, 15°5 by 11-0 millimetres respectively. If the full complement of eggs is not laid, 
the female when leaving the nest covers them with small dry leaves. Like other Titmice she sits 
closely, and defends her eges in the same manner. We found complete sittings between the 20th 
and 26th of May, the eggs being then fresh ; on the 14th of June we found young birds.” 
Just as this present article was going to press, we were enabled to describe the nest and eggs of 
this rare species from specimens actually before us, Dresser having, through the kindness of Dr. 
Renard, of Moscow, received a nest with four eggs, together with four skins of the bird itself, 
all obtained by Mr. Leonida Sabanieff in the Southern Ural. The nest now before us is composed 
of dried green moss intermixed with fine cowhair, and lined with what appears to be White Hare’s 
fur; it is closely interwoven, though rather carelessly built. The eggs are white, spotted, chiefly 
at the larger end, with dull red, and, compared with a large series of the eggs of the various 
European Titmice in Dresser’s collection, most nearly resemble those of the Blue Titmouse— 
indeed, when mixed up with them cannot be distinguished. In size they measure 75 by 43, +0 
by 23, 46 by 76, 24 by 34 of an inch respectively. According to the particulars sent with them, 
they were taken by Mr. Sabanieff on the 29th of May 1869. Mr. Benzon also writes to us:— 
147 
