AGITHALUS CASTANEUS. 
(CHESTNUT-CROWNED TITMOUSE.) 
Aigithalus castaneus, Severtzoff, ‘Turk. Jevotnie, p. 136 (1873). 
Figura nulla. 
3 ad. fronte et plagd magna in capitis lateribus cum regione paroticé nigris: pileo, nucha, collo postico, dorso 
et tectricibus alarum superioribus castaneis, pileo saturatiore: dorso postico et uropygio ochraceis vix 
rufescenti tinctis, supracaudalibus albo-cervinis: alis et caudd ut in Agithalo pendulino picturatis sed 
latits albo marginatis: mento et guld albis: corpore reliquo subtts albo-cervino, pectore castaneo 
notato: rostro corneo: pedibus nigris: iride fusca. 
2 ad. pileo et nucha isabellinis, castaneo notatis: dorso sordidé castaneo, plumis ochraceo marginatis: alis et 
cauda ut in mare picturatis: corpore subtus pallidiore, mento et gula niveis. 
Adult Male (Astrachan, May). Differs from githalus pendulinus chiefly in having the crown, nape, and 
back chestnut-red, the breast marked with the same colour, the bill larger, and the white edgings to 
the quills and tail-feathers much broader; forehead and a large patch covering most of the side of the 
head, and the ear-coverts, deep black; crown, nape, hind neck, back, and wing-coverts rich chestnut- 
red, darkest on the crown; lower part of the back and rump warm ochreous; upper tail-coverts 
yellowish white; wings and tail as in Agithalus pendulinus, but the white margins are much broader ; 
chin and throat white; rest of the underparts buffy white, the breast much marked with chestnut, the 
feathers being that colour on the basal portion; soft parts as m 4g. pendulinus. Total length about 
4-25 inches, culmen 0:4, wing 2°25, tail 2:05, tarsus 0°58. 
Adult Female (Astrachan). Differs from the male in having the crown and nape dull isabelline, marked 
Obs. 
especially on the fore part and sides of the crown with chestnut-red; back dull chestnut-red, the 
feathers tippped with warm ochreous cream-colour; underparts much whiter than in the male, the chin 
and throat pure white, and the rest of the underparts white with a faint creamy tinge. 
The intensity of the chestnut-colour on the head varies somewhat, and it appears to be assumed only 
by degrees ; for in the series of males I possess there is a great variation in the amount of this colour, 
some having the entire hind neck still ochreous white. Besides other differences the present species 
has the head in the female, and those portions in that of the male where the chestnut-red is not 
assumed, cream-coloured, whereas in Aigithalus pendulinus it is always pale French grey or ashy white. 
In spite of every endeavour, I have been able to glean but little information respecting the 
present species, which is quite distinct from Ayithalus pendulinus, and appears to have a much 
more restricted range. As yet I have only seen examples from Astrachan, where, judging from 
the large series sent by collectors, it must be common. Professor Eversmann described a 
specimen of this species as an adult male of Ayithalus pendulinus (Est. Ist. Orenb. ii. 
pp. 145, 147); but it appears doubtful if the specimen in question was obtained in Orenburg, 
2c 
165 
