102 LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE. 
separate any but adult examples of these two races, Herr Lorenz 
has not hesitated to describe A. zrdi7 var. caucasica! Space fails for 
the enumeration of the Siberian, Chinese and Japanese forms of 
Long-tailed Tit upon which specific names have been conferred ; 
but I may observe that from the Balkan Peninsula to Persia occur 
two distinct species, A. ephronota and A. macedonica, in both of 
which there is a black patch on the throat. 
Our form of the Long-tailed Tit is resident and tolerably abundant 
throughout England and Wales, wherever the localities are suited to 
its habits ; and, although somewhat more partial in its distribution 
in Scotland, it is by no means uncommon there ; ranging as far west 
as Skye, and wandering to the Shetlands. In Ireland it is resident 
and common. 
The nest is oval, with a small hole in the upper part of the side, 
and is composed of silvery lichens, green moss, wool and spiders’ webs, 
felted together, and lined with a profusion of feathers. Its form has 
procured for its architect the name of ‘ Bottle-Tit’; while, owing to 
the lining, the bird is frequently called the ‘ Feather-poke.’ The 
nest is often placed in the middle of a thick whitethorn, holly, or 
furze-bush ; sometimes in ivy, or high up in the lichen-covered 
branches of a tree; occasionally in tangled masses of brambles and 
creepers. The eggs, usually laid about the middle of April, are white, 
generally more or less speckled and streaked with light red, but some- 
‘times merely suffused with that tint: measurements ‘53 by ‘42 in. 
In number they are usually from 7 to 10; but 16 young birds have 
been found in the same nest, without any evidence of their being the 
produce of more than one female. When sitting, the long tail of the 
bird is turned over its back, and often projects above its head through 
the entrance-hole. Two broods are often reared in the season, and 
subsequently the family may be seen flitting in single file from one 
hedge-row to another with a remarkably dipping motion. The usual 
note is a shrill zee, zee, zee. ‘The food consists of insects and their larve. 
Adult male (British) : front and crown white, bordered on each 
side by a black line, running from the base of the bill over the eye 
to the nape and upper back, which are also black ; scapulars and 
lower back dull rose ; wings dark brown, margined with white on 
the secondaries ; tail-feathers black, the three outer pairs broadly 
tipped and margined with white; cheeks and throat dull white ; 
upper breast white with a few black streaks ; belly and flanks dull 
rose; bill, legs and feet black. Length 5:5 in. ; wing 2°45 in. The 
female has rather more black about the head; the young are duller 
in colour and have no rosy tint on the upper parts. 
