THE LONG -TAILED TITS. 
T 4S 
of Pomerania and of the Alps I found this bird equally 
common.” 
Nest. — A very rough and inartistic mass of dry grass, with a 
little moss or wool, and occasionally a feather or two. The 
nest is nearly always placed in the hole of a tree, which the 
bird sometimes excavates for itself. At other times it nests in 
the foundations of large nests (Crows, or birds of prey), or even 
occupies deserted nests of Crows or Magpies, or even that of a 
Squirrel or a Wren, according to Mr. Seebobm. 
Eggs. — From four to seven in number. The general appear- 
ance of the eggs separates them at a glance when they are 
placed side by side with those of the other British species of 
Tits, on account of the rufous marking being so pronounced. 
The eggs are very pretty, and have a white or pinkish -white 
ground, with bright purplish-red underlying spots, and over- 
lying spots of brighter red, sometimes confluent, and forming 
a patch at the larger end. The majority of clutches are boldly 
marked, and there are not so many pale clutches of eggs as are 
met with in all the species hitherto considered. Axis, 
o-6-o' 65 inch ; diam., C45- 0*5, 
THE LONG-TAILED TITS. GENUS H 5 GITHALUS.* 
AEgithalus , Hermann, Obs. Zool., i., p. 214 (1804). 
Type, /&. caudatus (Linn.). 
The long tail is the principal character of the genus 
sEgithalus ; it is always longer than the wing, whereas in the 
* However annoying it may be to have to change well-known generic 
and specific names, there is no help for it, when the names are beyond 
question correct. Thus we consider that Dr. Stejneger has proved his 
point (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., ix., p. 382, 18S6) with regard to the super- 
session of A credit fa of Koch by Atgithalns of Hermann. The “Obser- 
vationes” of the latter author is a work far more entitled to respect than 
the nominal lists of Forster, Leach, and others, and it is not Hermann’s 
fault, but that of his successors, that his generic name was not recognised 
sooner. Atgithalus was employed for the Penduline Tits by Boie in 1S22, 
but, being preoccupied, must be replaced by Remisa of Stejneger [l.c . , 
p. 387). We do not agree with Dr. Stejneger that the “ Pipria (?) mropaa' 
of Hermann was the British species, usually called Acred// la vagans 
(Leach). The only species known in Switzerland appears to be the true 
caudatus (L.), cf. Fatio & Studer, Cat. Ois. Suisse, p. 22. 
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