66 THE ALPS IN JUNE. 



has a bluer back than ours, and the Marsh-tit in these higher 

 levels differs, according to Professor Fatio, even from the same 

 bird when found lower down, and approaches rather to the Scan- 

 dinavian form. This single fact is enough to show how inter- 

 esting would be a persevering study of this particular family. I 

 will not venture to say whether these slight differences in plumage 

 are enough to justify a specific separation of the forms. In 

 the case of the continental Long-tailed Tit, which is decidedly 

 different in colouring from ours, even amateurs may perhaps 

 see a suflScient reason ; but will prefer to suspend their 

 judgment as to the other two. 



There is yet a Titmouse, nearly always to be heard and 

 seen between the Engstlen-alp and the Gentelthal, which is even 

 more attractive to the ornithologist than any of its cousins. 

 This is the Crested-tit {LcyphopTw/nes eristatus, Linn.), now so rare 

 even in Scotland, and, according to Anderegg, not too common 

 even in these pine-forests. It needs a vigilant eye and ear to 

 detect it, so closely does it resemble its relatives (and especially 

 the Blue species) both in voice and appearance, until you- catch 

 the well-marked crest on the head, and the additional shade of 

 melancholy in the note. So close indeed are this bird and the 

 Blue-tit in form, habits, and note, that I am astonished that the 

 crest by itself (a few feathers raised on the head) should have been 

 thought a sufficiently strong character to raise it into a separate 

 genus — Lophophanes. If we notice the other Tits, we shall find 

 that they also often elevate their head-feathers into something 

 like a crest ; imagine this a little larger, and the bright 

 colouring of the Blue-tit sobered into a soft bluish grey, and 



