Page:The Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and Burma (Birds Vol 1).djvu/109

Rh Nidification. Breeds freely in Kashmir and elsewhere, from 3,500 feet up to 9,000 feet or higher. The eggs four to six, or even seven, are more richly coloured than are those of the Indian Grey-Tit and measure about 18.5 × 13.5 mm. The breeding season is from the end of April to early June.

Habits as in the other Grey-Tits.

(54) Parus major planorum.

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. This bird is a small replica of the Kashmir Grey-Tit, much the same size as cinereus but decidedly paler.

Colours of soft parts as in cinereus.

Measurements. Wing 63 to 70 mm.; tail 52 to 63 mm.

Distribution. Plains of N.W. India and Punjab.

Nidification. Nothing recorded. Eggs of a clutch sent me, and said to have been taken at Lahore, average about 17.5 × 13.4 mm.

Habits as usual, but according to Hartert this is purely a plains form though there is very little material available for study in the shape of breeding specimens.

(55) Parus major mahrattarum.

Vernacular names. None recorded.

Description. Similar to the Indian Grey-Tit or even darker, the nuchal patch hardly noticeable and the tail-feathers wholly black on both webs, with only narrow grey edges to the outer webs. The black central streak on the abdomen is generally very wide.

Measurements. Wing 63 to 74 mm.; tail 51 to 62 mm.

Distribution. The whole of Central and South India and Ceylon. It is found as far north as Northern Bombay across to Chota Nagpore and E. Bengal.

Nidification. Breeds throughout its range in the more hilly parts which are well wooded. In the northern drier countries it lays in February, March, and early April; in South India in March and April and in the higher hills in April to June, whilst in Poona Betham took eggs as late as August, possibly second broods. The eggs are more richly coloured, as a rule, than those of cinereus and the average size of 30 eggs is 17.4 × 13.6 mm.