20 PJENDULINE TIT. 



warning of the approach of danger by a slight prolonged 

 whistling, (sifflement.) When the female sits, the male 

 often goes away and gives no warning, but as soon as 

 the nest is taken he appears, perches himself on the 

 place it once occupied, and never ceases to bewail its 

 loss." 



Count Miihle remarks that in Greece it is very diffi- 

 cult to get specimens of the Penduline Tit, because it 

 lives and breeds in impenetrable swampy woods, sur- 

 rounded by grass land also frequently under water. He 

 found the nests frequently in the winter empty, when 

 the trees were leafless. 



The male bird in breeding plumage has the top of 

 the head and throat white, frequently verging into grey, 

 which extends to the nape and scapularies. The back 

 and wing coverts rich russet, becoming lighter towards 

 the rump. Forehead black, edged with deep ochreous ; 

 cheeks and ear coverts black; neck and crop light russet, 

 spotted with the same deep rich ochreous colour of the 

 back; the rest of the abdomen light fawn-colour, the 

 flanks darker; primaries clay brown; secondaries same 

 colour, slightly tipped with white ; tertials brown, deeply 

 bordered with greyish white, tinged with russet; tail 

 of moderate length and emarginate, the feathers all more 

 or less brown, bordered with greyish white; beak black; 

 feet and legs lead grey; iris yellow. 



The female has the top of the head grey, and the 

 black of the forehead is wanting, but there is a spot 

 of ochreous brown just above the base of the beak; the 

 inferior parts are of a deeper fawn-colour than those of 

 the male, and the brown of the wings and tail feathers 

 is lighter, and the grey border not so broad. 



The young before the first moult has the black parts 

 of the forehead, cheeks, and ear coverts replaced by 



