122 



Titmice climbing about. He had observed them previously where the red beech and Acer 

 trautvetteri showed the boundary of the tree-growth. He also met with it at an altitude of 

 6000 feet, where a few scattered firs {Abies orientalis) grew amongst the birches in the Little 

 Caucasus. In the forests of Bukuriani, and higher up wherever there was tree-growth, this species 

 and Parus palustris were tolerably numerous. Menetries's short note " commune au Caucase," 

 and also Nordmann's (in Demidoff's Voy. iii. p. 189), must certainly, he remarks, refer to the 

 present species. The latter states that it is common in Mingrelia and Abchasia. In the winter, 

 Dr. Eadde adds, this Titmouse and Parus palustris frequent the lowlying forests, and he found 

 them commoner in the forests of Borshom at this season than in the summer, and it is also 

 numerous at this season in the Talyseh lowlands. Michailovski obtained this Titmouse on the Pass 

 of Suram, the Pass of Zacarsk, and Abas-Touman ; and Bogdanotf also saw it, he says, near Veden, 

 and it is also said to occur near Lenkoran. Lorenz saw a Titmouse in the Eschkakon ravine 

 on the Bermamit, North Caucasus, in May 1885, which he believes was the present species. 



In Transcaspia Messrs. Eadde and Walter met with it (Vog. Transcasp. p. 22) in the elevated 

 juniper-groves, especially on the Akdagh, where it is very common; and Mr. Zarudny speaks of 

 it as being very common in the juniper-groves, but often descends into the valleys and gorges. 

 It was observed by him on the Eiver Gjarmaou, Koulkoulaou, and especially numerous in the 

 juniper-forests between Guez-Bachi and Tarharan ; and he remarks (Bull. Soc. Mosc. iii. p. 788) 

 that specimens which were obtained between the 20th and 27th of August in the juniper-region 

 in the Eastern Kopepet-dagh were either in moult or had almost completed their moult. 



In Persia it was obtained by Sir Oliver St. John in the oak-forests west of Shiraz. 



The nest and eggs of this Titmouse are as yet unknown, but will probably be found to 

 resemble those of Parus ater, though larger in size. 



The specimen figured is the male above described, and is in my own collection. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser, 

 a, b, S a d- Tiflis, December 1886 (Dr. G. Radde) . 



E Mus. Brit, 

 a, <J. (Type.) Oak-forest near Shiraz, June 1870 (Sir Oliver St. John). 



E Mus. H. Seebohm. 

 a, ? . Gorge of Zekary, Kirschawetz, Caucasus, November 9th, 1879 (Michailovski). 



