CHAPTER LXI. 



The Long-tailed Titmouse. 



Parus caudatus, Lin. ; La Mesange d longue queue, Buf. 



Desceiption and Chaeactee. — The Long-tailed Tit is the 

 most elegant and interesting of its species. It is graceful in 

 contour, beautifully diversified in colour, and sylph-like in 

 its movements. It is not so common as most of the other 

 varieties, and is more difficult to domesticate and keep in 

 confinement. 



The length of this bird is o-Jin., of which the tail measures 

 3^in. The bill is very short, stout, sharp pointed, and black 

 in colour. The irides are hazel, and the orbits red. The 

 face is very peculiar, and resembles that of an Owl. The top 

 of the head is a mixture of white and grey ; running from 

 the forehead to the exterior part of the occiput is a broad 

 band of black feathers, passing over and behind the eyes, 

 down the sides of the hind neck, and encircling the back 

 part of the head. The back is black and reddish chestnut 

 brown intermixed, the latter colour predominating about the 

 shoulders, and the former on the back and saddle. The 

 cheeks, throat, and breast, are white ; the belly, sides, vent, 

 and rump, are of a dullish rose, or reddish chestnut colour, 

 interspersed with white. The quill feathers of the wings are 

 dusky greenish brown, with palish brown edges ; the outer 

 coverts are blackish brown, and the inner ones white, edged 

 with dullish chestnut. 



The tail is formed of feathers of unequal lengths ; the two 

 centre ones are Sin. long ; the next on each side, 3|-in. ; the 



