SOMBRE TIT.

Parus lugubris, Natt.

Le Mésange lugubre.

We have figured on the accompanying Plate two species of Tits, nearly allied to each other in form, colour
and native locality, neither of which approach the British Islands, nor even the more temperate parts of
the European continent. The first is the Parus ugubris, a species that may at all times be distinguished
by its greater size, exceeding, although but in a small degree, our well-known P. major: it is, however,
clothed with plumage less gaudy, being entirely devoid of those contrasts of black, white, and yellow, which
characterize the plumage of that species.

M. Temminck informs us that the Parus lugubris is almost restricted to the European confines of the
Asiatic border, and that, although pretty common in Dalmatia, it has never been observed in Austria or any
part of Germany. The manners, habits and food of this species we believe to be similar to those of its
British congeners ; but we have no details to offer respecting them from our own experience, nor has any
author to which we have access given any particulars respecting them.

The male and female are alike in plumage, and may be thus described :—The whole of the upper surface
of a brownish ash colour, becoming deeper on the top of the head; the secondaries and tail-feathers slightly
margined with whitish ; throat brownish black ; the cheeks and the whole of the under surface white, slightly
tinted with brownish grey; beak and feet lead colour.

 

SIBERIAN TIT.

Parus Sibericus, Gmel.

Le Mésange a ceinture blanche.

Aurnouan the Parus Sibericus has no great attraction as regards beauty of plumage, it has in its shape and
general form a more elegant and graceful contour than the P. dugubris. In size it is considerably smaller, having
at the same time a longer and a graduated tail, offering, though in a slight degree, a relationship to the Long-
tailed Tit, so commonly dispersed over Europe ; and we have to regret that the extreme rarity of the Siberian
Tit, in Europe at least, prevents our ascertaining whether its habits and manners offer any approximation to
those of the bird just referred to. M.Temminck, in his Manuel, informs us that it is an inhabitant of the
most northern parts of Europe and Asia, migrating in winter to some of the provinces of Russia ; and we
received from Sweden the specimens from which our figures were taken.

The plumage of Parus Sibericus may be thus detailed :—The upper surface is of a deep ash colour, tinged
on the back with brown ; the quills, secondaries and tail-feathers edged with white; throat black ; cheeks and
upper part of the chest pure white ; under parts greyish white, washed with rufous on the flanks ; bill and

tarsi lead colour.
Our Plate represents these two rare species of the natural size.