232 
ORNITHOLOGY. 
drawn. On one occasion I told my horse-keeper to put 
his hand into a hole, into which I had seen one of these 
birds enter. He did so, but soon drew it out with a scream, 
saying a * snake had bit him/ I told him to try again, 
but with no better success, however ; he would not attempt 
it the third time, so the nest was left with the bold little 
proprietor, who no doubt rejoiced to find she had succeeded 
in frightening away the unwelcome intruder. The 
materials used by these birds for their nests consist of soft 
hair, downy feathers, and moss, all of which they collect in 
large quantities. They build in the months of February 
and March ; but I once found a nest of young Indian Grey 
Tits so late as the 10th of November. They lay six eggs, 
white with light red spots. On one occasion I saw a nest 
in a bank by the side of the road ; when the young were 
nearly fledged the road had to be widened, and workmen 
•were employed in cutting down the bank. The poor parent 
birds appeared to be perfectly aware that their nest would 
soon be reached, and after trying in vain to persuade the 
young one (for there was but one) to come out, they pushed 
it down into the road, but could get it no further, though 
they did their utmost to take it out of the reach of danger. 
I placed it among the bushes above the road, when the 
parents seemed to be immediately conscious of its safety.^' 
lA. O. H,] 
646 (bis). Parus cyanus,* Pallas. 
This beautiful little species was common in August in the 
Tamarisk jungles on the banks of the Arpalak, within 
* Parus cyanus. 
Adult male (accordina^ to Degland), length 4*9 inches. 'Plumage. — 
Crown of the head, white tinged with azure ; a great white patch on the 
nape ; back, rump, and upper part of the wings, azure. Forehead, sides 
of the head, and the whole lower surface, pure white with a blue spot on 
the middle of the abdomen ; a dark blue stripe stretching from the beak 
to the nape passes through the eyes, and further on widens and encircles 
the head. The greater coverts, dark blue margined with paler blue and 
tipped with white ; the two central tail feathers, azure blue like the back, 
the lateral tail feathers margined and tipped with white. 
Female. — Top of the head ashy white, the blue everywhere less pure ; 
