82 WHlTE-HEAl)iED LONG-TAILED TIT. 



To return to our little friends, the Long-tailed 

 Tits, we may mention that the white-headed form, 

 which is figured in the plate, is a very rare and 

 occasional visitor to England, and has only been 

 known to occur for certain bn a few occasions, all 

 statements of its more frequent occurrence 

 notwithstanding. We can state most positively, 

 from our own experiences in France, where we 

 have shot both the ordinary Mgithalus vagans and 

 the White-headed ^. caudatus in the same park, 

 that it is impossible to distinguisiji the two birds 

 when they are at a little distance, and when 

 hanging to a twig, the white centre to the crown 

 of our own bird, shows so conspicuously that it is 

 easy to imagine it to be the white-headed con- 

 tinental form. A good pair of field-glasses, 

 therefore, is absolutely necessary for the correct 

 determination of these small creatures. 



The eggs, as might be expected, are among the 

 least of those found in Europe, and only measure 

 half an inch. They are of a dull white colour. 



