438 
MR. J. H. GURNEY ON THE BEARDED TITMOUSE. 
Berkshire. — Mr. Aplin draws attention to Dr. Lamb’s statement 
in 1814, that the Bearded Tit was frequent on the Ken net, and 
bred at Newbury, where Mr. Aplin considers the river valley a very 
likely spot (‘Birds of Oxfordshire/ p. 73). 
Oxfordshire. — One or two occurrences many years ago are 
mentioned (‘Zoologist,’ 1849, p. 2597). 
Gloucestershire. — Thomas Pennant says he saw it, but this 
was probably 130 years ago, and there seems no later authority for 
this county. 
Leicestershire. — Several in 1876, and as recently as 1883 
(Montagu Browne) : mentioned in Crab’s ‘Natural History of Bel voir’ 
(1795), as “The Bearded Manica actually shot near Melton Mowbray.” 
Nottinghamshire. — One occurrence (Sterland). 
Staffordshire. — Formerly met with (Me Aldowie, ‘ Birds of 
Staffordshire,’ p. 53). 
Cheshire. — A pair said to have been shot at Hoylake in 
September, 1893 (W. H. Dobie) 
Breconshire. — -Reported occurrence, ‘Zoologist,’ 1884, p. 486. 
In the accompanying map the pink colour is intended to show 
where this species formerly bred, probably at all times a limited 
area, for in 1747 Edwards said they were not well enough known 
in England to have a name ; at the same time it is not likely that 
we recognise all their former haunts. Probably there were no reed 
beds of sufficient extent in Suffolk and Essex, where they did not 
breed 150 years ago, as in Norfolk. 
It only remains to say that there is only a single species of 
Bearded Titmouse known, and besides that it is a genus by itself, 
Panurm, Koch, with no nearer allies in the opinion of Dr. Sharpe 
than the reed birds of the Lower Himalayas and China, Paradoxomis 
chnlornis, etc. Its range however is extensive, for it reaches to 
Thibet. It is, undoubtedly, a very isolated and remarkable form, 
and ought to be considered the representative of a separate family, 
a view which is confirmed by the way in which it has been bandied 
about by many authors. 
Much that is valuable as to its true position in ornithology, and 
many further details of its history and habits, which there is not 
space to dwell on here, will be found in the Fourth Edition of 
Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds,’ and in Stevenson’s ‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ and 
in Dresser’s ‘ Birds of Europe.’ 
