PARIDAE 



5 39 



by bristly feathers, are exposed in Xerophila and Sphenostoma. 

 Crests occur in the last-named and at times in Parus. 



The colour of the soft, lax plumage is commonly dull ; but 

 Paras may 'be glossy greenish-black and yellow, as in the 

 Sultan-bird (P. sidtaneus) ; 

 black with white on the 

 wings, tail, or lower parts, as 

 in P. niyer and a few other 

 African species ; blue and 

 white, with a little black and 

 grey or a yellow fore-neck, as 

 in P. cyoMHS and P. fiavi- 

 jjcctiis ; blue, black, greenish, 

 yellow, and white, as in the 

 British Great and Blue Tits 

 (-P. major and P. caeruleus) ; 

 olive, brown, or grey, varied 

 with black, white, chestnut, or 

 buff, as in our Crested Tit {P. , 

 cristatus) ; or lastly, the tints 

 while including but little 

 yellow or blue, as in our Coal 



and Marsh Tits (P. Iritamiicua and P. palustris), may be greyish 

 or olive on the back, with a black head, white cheeks, and buf&sh- 

 white under parts, the former species having a white nuchal patch. 

 Psaltria is brown, grey, white, and buff ; Psaltriparus is similar ; 

 Xeropldla and Sphenostoma are brown, with yellowish-white, buff, 

 or brown and white lower surface ; Certhiparus is red-brown, with 

 a grey nape and dull white breast. Acredula, containing the Long- 

 tailed Tits, is black and white with a more or less pronounced rosy 

 wash, or may be rufous, or brown and grey, with pinkish or fawn 

 under parts, two species having chestnut heads. Aegifhalus and 

 Auripiarus are rufous-brown, yellow-green, or greyish above, with 

 black and white, orange-red, or yellow heads ; and are commonly 

 rufous and white, yellow, or whitish below, occasionally with bay 

 marks. The sexes are very similar, the young often yellower. 



Titmice are ordinarily non - migratory, Parus occupying 

 most of the globe, except South America and the Australian 

 Eegion east of Lombok and Flores ; Psaltria is confined to Java, 

 Acredula to the Palaearctic and Indian countries, Aegithalus to 



Great Titmouse. Parus major. 



