8 SIBERIAN TIT. 



fibrous lichen, and willow down. Seven appears to be 

 the usual complement of eggs, but eight, and even 

 nine are sometimes laid. This Titmouse seems to pay 

 as little regard to the rights of priority as some orni- 

 thologists do, for several instances occurred to Mr. 

 Wolley's knowledge, of its dispossessing the Common 

 Redstart from a convenient hole in which the latter 

 bird had begun its nest. The ordinary cry of Parus 

 Sibiricus is perhaps best expressed by the words 

 'Pistee-tee,' pronounced in a hissing tone, and from 

 this cry the bird gets its Finnish name. By those of 

 the people who are inclined to superstition it is re- 

 garded as a bird of bad omen, and the squirrel-shooter 

 or bear -hunter looks forward to a luckless expedition 

 if in starting in the morning, he is greeted by the 

 notes of the busy little Pistee-tianen. 



Specimens of the Marsh Titmouse from the north 

 of Europe undoubtedly differ somewhat (as is the case 

 with so many other species) from those obtained in the 

 British Islands, by having the colours more strongly 

 contrasted. The northern race has been described by 

 M. De Selys-Longchamps, as distinct, under the name 

 of Parus borealis, (Bulletins de 1' Acad. Boy. de 

 Bruxelles, tome x, No. 7). I have, thanks to that 

 gentleman, lately had the advantage of comparing his 

 type specimens with examples from Mr. Wolley's col- 

 lection, and can safely say that they are in all respects 

 identical. At the same time I must express my belief 

 that the differences between them and our common P. 

 palustris are not such as I can consider specific; and 

 if I am not mistaken, M. De Selys himself is now 

 of the same opinion. I feel assured that that talented 

 naturalist was wrongly informed as to the locality 

 whence his types were obtained. It was doubtless from 



